DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Ministerial Boxes

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister by what means ministerial boxes are conveyed from private offices in his Department to (a) himself and (b) his Ministers; how frequently and at what expense private courier firms are employed for such a task; and which courier firms have been used for such duties.

Christopher Leslie: Ministerial boxes originating from this Department are transported to Ministers' homes either by Government car or by a service provided by the Royal Mail.

Central Office of Information

Tim Collins: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many advertising contracts are out to tender through the Central Office of Information; and what the value is of such contracts.

Christopher Leslie: There are currently two advertising contracts out to tender through the COI: XSexual Health Awareness", for the Department of Health, and the Million Visitor Campaign, for the British Tourist Authority. The respective values of the initial contracts period are £1.5 million and £24 million.

Civil Servants

Nick Gibb: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister on what basis civil servants are entitled to one year's salary severance payments.

Christopher Leslie: Staff can retire or be retired early under several categories of early retirement or severance as set out in sections 11.5 to 11.10 of the Civil Service Management Code (CSMC). The financial terms for early retirement and severance are provided by the Civil Service Compensation Scheme (CSCS). Benefits on medical retirement are provided by the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS). Early retirement and severance payments vary between individuals depending on the category of departure, the person's age, length of service, and pay on exit. Early retirement with payment of pension is limited to those over age 50 with at least five years' service; early severance with immediate payment of a lump sum and accrued pension benefits preserved for payment at age 60 applies to those below age 50 or with less than five years' service.
	The CSMC is available at www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/civilservice/managementcode/index.htm and the rules of the CSCS and the PCSPS at www.civilservice-pensions.gov.uk.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

LNM Holdings

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the policy of the Government is towards an application to the EBRD for support for the takeover of the Nova Hut steelworks in the Czech Republic by LNM Holdings.

Clare Short: The EBRD exists to help restructure the economies of former communist countries in Central and Eastern Europe. We support all responsible projects that serve this purpose.
	The EBRD board has not been approached with a proposal for a loan to the Nova Hut steelworks. If a proposal is put to the board we will consider it on its merits.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Northern Ireland Court Service

Iris Robinson: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will undertake to retain court services in North Downs/Ards follow the consultation on the future of accommodation for the Northern Ireland Court Service.

Rosie Winterton: The Northern Ireland Court Service published its Court Accommodation Strategy for public consultation on 7 December 2001. The consultation document indicates that consideration will be given to the closure of courthouses at Bangor and Newtownards and that this would allow for the provision of a new courthouse in the North Downs and Ards area. Decisions on the proposals in the consultation document will be taken following the expiry of the period of public consultation on 29 March 2002.

TREASURY

Climate Change Levy

Howard Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how revenue from the climate change levy is (a) classified and (b) allocated to spending programmes.

Dawn Primarolo: Receipts from the climate change levy are classified as general taxation revenue. The levy package is revenue-neutral for business on account of measures introduced alongside the levy which reduce other business taxes or direct additional spending towards energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies, from which business can benefit.
	First, employers' national insurance contributions have been reduced by 0.3 percentage points. Secondly, a fund worth £50 million per annum to support energy efficiency and renewables has been allocated to Departments as follows (approximate figures):
	
		
			 Amount pa Department Purpose 
		
		
			 £26.5 million approx DEFRA Energy efficiency—allocated to Carbon Trust 
			 £6 million approx Devolved administrations Energy efficiency—allocated to Carbon Trust 
			 £13 million DTI Renewables 
			 £4 million DEFRA Energy crops 
		
	
	Thirdly, the levy package includes a scheme of enhanced capital allowances to provide further support to businesses investing in designated energy saving technologies. As this is a tax allowance scheme it does not involve the allocation of revenue to a spending programme and the cost of the scheme depends on take up.

Large Corporates Forum

Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those firms which attended the large corporates forum on 28 September.

Dawn Primarolo: Representatives of the following companies attended the large corporates forum on 28 September 2001: General Motors UK, Friends Provident, ICI, British American Tobacco, Dixons, AMP (UK), Orange, HSBC, Rolls Royce, Schroders, Unilever.

Public Services Productivity

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 11 December 2001, Official Report, column 769W, on public services productivity, what process has been undertaken in preparing the paper; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Smith: Work is proceeding on the paper.

Professional Services

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment (a) his Department and (b) the Office of Government Commerce has made of which companies are the leading suppliers of professional services to Government Departments by (i) value and (ii) number; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Smith: The National Audit Office report Purchasing Professional Services published in April 2001 identified the leading 25 suppliers of professional services to Government Departments and the level of spend with those companies. A copy of the report is in the Library.

Professional Services

Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library the minutes of the large corporates forum on 28 September 2001; and for what reason they were (a) first published on and (b) then removed from the Inland Revenue website.

Dawn Primarolo: The minutes of the 28 September 2001 meeting of the large corporates forum are available on the Inland Revenue website. I have arranged for a copy to be placed in the House of Commons Library. A draft version was released for publication in error before it had been finalised. This was removed and later replaced by the final version.

Inland Revenue Secondments

Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Inland Revenue personnel were (a) seconded to private businesses in the last 12 months and (b) vice versa; and what the purpose of these secondments was.

Dawn Primarolo: In the 12 months from 1 March 2001 the Inland Revenue has  (a) made 11 secondments to the private sector and
	(b) taken 13 secondments from the private sector.
	The purpose of these secondments was to promote the exchange of ideas and experience. Both inward and outward secondments help develop Inland Revenue staff by enabling them to work with different skills—leading to a better understanding of the business environment and a broadening of their experience.

VAT (Domestic Fuel)

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the legislative barriers which prevent domestic energy being zero rated;
	(2)  if he will make an assessment on hypothecation of money raised on VAT on domestic fuel to a national energy efficiency programme;
	(3)  how much revenue has been raised in each of the last three years from VAT on domestic fuel.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government publish details of VAT receipts each year in their Financial Statement and Budget Report but do not disaggregate receipts by type of good or service.
	Under long-standing agreements with the European Union, no member state is permitted to introduce new zero rates or restore a zero rate once it has been withdrawn.
	The way in which revenue is raised does not in general determine how it is spent. The Government are committed to energy efficiency for its significant environmental, business and social impacts and have allocated significant resources to fund programmes designed to promote energy efficiency in the domestic sector.

National Insurance Contributions

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate additional revenues that would arise in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) Scotland from a policy of (i) abolishing the upper limit on employees' national insurance contributions, (ii) raising the limit to £50,000, (iii) raising the limit to £100,000 and (iv) charging a rate of (A) 5 per cent., (B) 10 per cent., and (C) 15 per cent. on income between the current upper limit and (X) £50,000, (Y) £100,000 and (Z) £250,000.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 28 February 2002
	This information is not readily available for Scotland and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Available estimates for the UK, provided by the Government's Actuary's Department (GAD), are shown in the table.
	
		Estimated full-year effects—UK
		
			  2002–03 (£ billion) 
		
		
			 Abolishing the Upper Earnings Limit (UEL) for employees +3.35 
			 Raising the UEL to £50,000 per year +2.05 
			 Raising the UEL to £100,000 per year +3.00 
			 AX 5 per cent. between UEL and £50,000 per year1 +1.75 
			 AY 5 per cent. between UEL and £100,000 per year1 +2.55 
			 AZ 5 per cent. between UEL and £250,000 per year1 +2.75 
			 BX 10 per cent. between UEL and £50,000 per year1 +3.50 
			 BY 10 per cent. between UEL and £100,000 per year1 +5.10 
			 BZ 10 per cent. between UEL and £250,000 per year1 +5.55 
			 CX 15 per cent. between UEL and £250,000 per year1 +5.25 
			 CY 15 per cent. between UEL and £250,000 per year1 +7.65 
			 CZ 15 per cent. between UEL and £250,000 per year1 +8.30 
		
	
	Note 1: Assuming UEL for contracted-out rebates will remain unchanged, with a rate of 5/10/15 per cent. being charged on earnings (whether or not the person is contracted-out) between the UEL and the specified limit.

Corporate Venturing

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost was of the tax relief granted in respect of corporate venturing; and what assessment he has made of the economic impact on the tax relief for corporate venturing.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 28 February 2002
	The cost of tax relief for corporate venturing is expected to be about £50 million in a full year. The corporate venturing scheme was only introduced on 1 April 2000. It is too early in the life of the scheme for any reliable economic impact assessment to be undertaken.

Pension Rules

Chris Grayling: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what rules apply to a bereaved partner in relation to the payment of (a) the state pension an (b) SERPS in cases where both partners have contributed fully to national insurance throughout their working lives.

Ian McCartney: I have been asked to reply.
	The rules governing state pensions for widows and widowers depend on the individual circumstances of the people concerned.
	Generally, where both the contributor and the surviving spouse are over state pension age when the contributor dies, and both have full national insurance records, the survivor can combine their own pension with a pension based on their spouse's national insurance record.
	However, the maximum amount of basic pension and additional (SERPS) pension cannot exceed the amount of a single person could get based on their own National Insurance record.
	The hon. Gentleman may wish to know that:
	from 6 April, the introduction of the State Second Pension will provide a better additional pension that SERPS for the low paid, and certain carers and long term disabled. The maximum amount of State Second Pension a surviving spouse can inherit will be 50 per cent.; and
	the inherited SERPS regulations, which come into force on 6 October, will gradually begin to reduce the maximum percentage of SERPS a surviving spouse may inherit to up to 50 per cent. The maximum amount a surviving spouse may inherit will depend on the contributor's state pension age, with most protection—up to 90 per cent.—going to the spouses of people whose state pension age falls between 6 October 2002 and 5 October 2003.

Newspaper Advertising

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the expenditure of her (a) Department, (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies on newspaper advertising by title in each year since 1997.

Patricia Hewitt: Expenditure on press advertising through COI is as follows:
	
		
			 Subject area £ 
		
		
			 1997–98 
			 Import Licence Announcements 57,075 
			 Export Licence Announcements 5,749 
			 Languages for Export 21,165 
			 Queen's Awards 66,258 
			 Miscellaneous 157,377 
			 Business Links 1,258,122 
			 IT For All 357,451 
			  
			 Total 1,923,197 
			 1998–99 
			 Import Licence Announcements 47,891 
			 Queen's Awards 94,148 
			 Export Licence Announcements 7,208 
			 Firework Safety 49,800 
			 Working Time Regulations 599,995 
			 Business Links 432,585 
			 Trade UK 7,068 
			 Languages for Export 7,013 
			 National Minimum Wage 752,764 
			  
			 Total 1,998,472 
			 1999–2000 
			 Miners' Compensation 149,940 
			 Metrication 19,311 
			 Information Society Initiative 439,757 
			 Queen's Awards 47,883 
			 Export Website Awareness 16,191 
			 Export USA 2,436 
			 National Minimum Wage 15,476 
			 Import Licence Announcements 57,358 
			 Export Licence Announcements 14,081 
			 Foresight 52,614 
			 Miscellaneous 14,388 
			  
			 Total 829,435 
			 2000–01 
			 Miscellaneous 4,606 
			 National Minimum Wage 963,552 
			 Import Licence Announcements 45,470 
			 Export Licence Announcements 17,214 
			 Small Business Service 84,647 
			 Distance Selling 16,366 
			 Queen's Awards for Enterprise 43,542 
			 Miners' Compensation 134,674 
			 UK Online for Business 1,233,442 
			 Smart Awards 138,128 
			 Paid Annual Leave 1,179,543 
			 Small Business Service—Business Link 589,878 
			  
			 Total 4,451,062 
			 2001–02 (to date) 
			 Business Links 313,046 
			 Quality Mark Scheme 464,037 
			 Queen's Award for Enterprise 15,056 
			 National Minimum Wage 310,020 
			 UK Online for Business 288,872 
			 UK Online for Business (Supplement Advertising) 387,257 
			 Business Link Foot and Mouth 130,111 
			 Export Licence Announcements 6,240 
			 Import Licence Announcements 37,556 
			  
			 Total 1,952,195 
		
	
	All figures exclude VAT.
	British Trade International, which brings together international trade and investment support previously led by DTI and FCO, has spent £911,530 through COI on press advertising for Trade Partners UK in 2000–01.
	Each campaign may use national and regional media. The target audience and information to be conveyed influences the choice of media used. For national campaigns a mix of broadsheets and tabloids is frequently used. For regional advertising, space has been taken in many prominent regional newspapers as well as hundreds of more local papers and the specialist press.
	A breakdown of expenditure by title could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.
	Information of this kind on NDPBs is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	I have asked each of the Chief Executives of the Agencies to reply to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Alison Brimelow to Mr. John Bercow, dated 1 March 2002
	I am replying to this parliamentary question, tabled on 10 January 2001, about expenditure on newspaper advertising each year since 1997.
	Patent Office expenditure on newspaper advertising during this period relates mainly to annual recruitment exercises for patent examiners. The total expenditure by year is as follows:
	1997–98: £32,604
	1998–99: £46,482
	1999–2000: £12,880
	2000–01: £37,543
	A full breakdown by newspaper title is attached.
	
		Newspaper Advertising
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1997–98 
			 Cardiff Advertiser 306.00 
			 Guardian Media Group 4,415.50 
			 Telegraph Group 7,520.00 
			 Western Mail/South Wales Echo 7,868.28 
			 South Wales Argus 5,863.56 
			 Bristol Evening Post/Bath Chronicle/Western Daily Press 2,651.56 
			  
			 Total 1997–98 32,604.56 
			 1998–99 
			 Birmingham Post 385.00 
			 Cardiff Advertiser 503.00 
			 Guardian Media Group 3,950.00 
			 Professional Engineering 1,250.00 
			 Telegraph Group 19,700.00 
			 Western Mail/South Wales Echo 11,182.81 
			 South Wales Argus 4,044.80 
			 Bristol Evening Post/Bath Chronicle/Western Daily Press 2,651.56 
			 South Wales Evening Post 2,815.80 
			  
			 Total 1998–99 46,482.97 
			 1999–2000  
			 Cardiff Advertiser 156.00 
			 Guardian Group 3,715.00 
			 Midland Independent Newspapers 246.00 
			 The Times 900.00 
			 Telegraph Group 5,860.00 
			 Western Mail 752.00 
			 South Wales Argus 1,251.18 
			  
			 Total 1999–2000 12,880.18 
			 2000–01 
			 Cardiff Advertiser 431.00 
			 Guardian Media Group 2,380.00 
			 Telegraph Group 13,850.00 
			 Western Mail 10,160.12 
			 South Wales Argus 7,035.50 
			 Bristol Evening Post/Bath Chronicle/Western Daily Press 3,686.40 
			  
			 Total 2000–01 37,543.02 
		
	
	Letter from Desmond Flynn to Mr. John Bercow, dated 1 March 2002
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply in relation to the Insolvency Service Agency to your question about expenditure on newspaper advertising by title for each year since 1997.
	The vast bulk of expenditure by the Insolvency Service on newspaper advertising relates to staff recruitment with the cost of such advertising being aggregated with other recruitment costs. An analysis of expenditure so far this financial year shows that the Service has spent a total of £15,868 on recruitment advertising but it would not be possible to break that figure down by title other than at disproportionate cost. Similarly, an analysis of earlier years to produce such aggregated information could, again, only be produced at disproportionate cost.
	In addition to recruitment advertising I can tell you that, in October 2001, the Insolvency Service placed advertisements in The Lawyer and the Solicitor's Journal seeking expressions of interest for the provision of legal services. The cost of that advertising was £1,380 and £260 respectively.
	Letter from David Hendon to Mr. John Bercow, dated 1 March 2002
	The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply to your two Questions about expenditure on newspaper advertising, and on opinion polling, focus groups and other forms of market research. The information for the Radiocommunications Agency for the periods in question is as follows:
	
		£ 
		
			  1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 
		
		
			 Newspaper Advertising n/a 108,997 84,948 253,058 
			 Opinion polling 0 0 0 0 
			 Focus groups 0 1,500 2,500 2,500 
			 Market research 29,023 0 0 282,719 
		
	
	We do not have readily available figures for our newspaper advertising costs on 1997–98. However I would estimate these to be in line with the two following years.
	You also asked for details on surveys we have commissioned. The market research expenditure in 1997–98 concerned a survey of the views of our customers. The expenditure in 2000–01 concerned a survey on external communications, and a series of surveys to determine the value of the radio spectrum.
	Leter from John Holden to Mr. John Bercow, dated 1 March 2002:
	I have been asked to reply to your recently tabled Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in respect of Companies House Executive Agency. Figures for newspaper advertising for year-to-date 2001/2, for 2000/1 and 1999/2000 are respectively £63k, £126k and £122k. Figures for earlier years could only be segregated at disproportionate cost. However, our response to Parliamentary Question 2000/939 gave aggregate figures for earlier years for newspaper advertising and other promotional campaigns.
	Letter from Roger Heathcote to Mr. John Bercow, dated 1 March 2002
	You tabled a Parliamentary Question on 10 January 2002 to Patricia Hewitt, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, concerning what expenditure had been incurred on newspaper advertising, by title, for each year since 1997 in the department and executive agencies. I have been asked to reply in respect of the Employment Tribunals Service (ETS), which is an executive agency of the DTI.
	The ETS have incurred no expenditure on promotional newspaper advertising in the period under examination. Expenditure has been incurred in advertising local job vacancies around Great Britain as well as occasional notices in relation to individual or test tribunal cases, but individual records of such expenditure are not kept.
	Letter from Mr. Iain MacGregor to Mr. John Bercow, dated 1 March 2002
	The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply on behalf of NWML to your question regarding expenditure on newspaper advertising by DTI and its Agencies, for each year since 1997.
	The figures for NWML are as follows:
	Nil for each of the years
	Letter from David Irwin to Mr. John Bercow, dated 1 March 2002
	Further to your Parliamentary Question 2001/2115 about the expenditure on newspaper advertising, I can report as follows:
	2000–1: £548,878—excluding VAT
	2001–2: £284,393—excluding VAT
	The Small Business Service only came into existence at the beginning of April 2000 so previous years are not applicable.

Ministerial Transport

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her estimate is of the cost of (a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis for her Department in each of the last four years.

Patricia Hewitt: (a) I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office on 30 January 2002, Official Report, columns 405-06W.
	(b) This information is not held centrally.

Oil Suppliers and Retailers

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she and the Office of Fair Trading have held and on what dates since September 2001 with the (a) major oil suppliers, (b) United Kingdom Petroleum Industries Association, (c) Institute of Petroleum, (d) Petrol Retailers Association and (e) Association of United Kingdom Oil Independents to discuss mechanisms for the supply of road transport fuels; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: Ministers regularly meet a wide range of representatives from business. However, it is not normal practice to release details of ministerial meetings.

Accountancy Contracts

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will publish the (a) number and (b) value of contracts awarded by her Department to (i) Arthur Andersen, (ii) Deloitte Touche, (iii) Ernst and Young, (iv) KPMG and (v) PricewaterhouseCoopers accountants in each year since 1997.

Patricia Hewitt: Information from the Department's systems indicate that contracts let by core DTI to PWC Consulting or PricewaterhouseCoopers are as follows:
	
		
			 PricewaterhouseCoopers No. Contracts Total Value £ 
		
		
			 01 April 1999–31 March 2000 9 354,657 
			 01 April 2000–31 March 2001 16 636,623 
			 01 April 2001–04 January 2002 13 870,199 
		
	
	Contracts let by core DTI to Ernst & Young are as follows:
	
		
			 Ernst & Young No. Contracts Total Value £ 
		
		
			 01 April 1999–31 March 2000 3 407,165 
			 01 April 2000–31 March 2001 58 829,043 
			 01 April 2001–04 January 2002 10 879,679 
		
	
	Contracts let by core DTI to Deloitte & Touche are as follows:
	
		
			 Deloitte & Touche No. Contracts Total Value £ 
		
		
			 01 April 1999–31 March 2000 6 1,265,252 
			 01 April 2000–31 March 2001 6 1,839,428 
			 01 April 2001–04 January 2002 4 4,489,189 
		
	
	Contracts let by core DTI to KPMG are as follows:
	
		
			 KPMG No. Contracts Total Value £ 
		
		
			 01 April 1999–31 March 2000 1 11,642 
			 01 April 2000–31 March 2001 4 30,009 
			 01 April 2001–04 January 2002 3 92,131 
		
	
	Information is not held centrally for the earlier years and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	For contracts let to Andersen I would refer to the answer given to the hon. Member for East Carmarthen and Dinefwr (Adam Price) on 14 January 2002, Official Report, column 41W, where exceptionally information was given for earlier years.
	The Department's Executive Agencies will be responding separately.

Post Office Closures

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices are undergoing a consultation process for considered closure in connection with Postwatch, broken down by county.

Douglas Alexander: 73 post offices are currently undergoing consultation with Postwatch under the procedures of the Code of Practice for Post Office branch relocation, closure and conversion. The figures on a country basis are:
	England 63
	Wales 8
	Scotland 2
	Northern Ireland 0
	Figures are not available on a county basis.
	I understand from Post Office Ltd that the majority of these consultations concern outlets in rural areas where the subpostmaster has resigned and there are no applicants for the vacancy. The Code of Practice requires seeking alternative ways of continuing provision of post office services.

Pakistan (Imports)

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received from representatives of (a) industry and (b) trade unions about the effect on the UK textile industry of the removal of duty from finished goods imported from Pakistan.

Brian Wilson: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry received representations from the British Apparel & Textiles Confederation (BATC) and the Knitting Footwear and Allied Trades Union (KFAT) last October, including at a meeting to discuss the effect on the UK textile industry of the removal of duty from finished goods imported from Pakistan. In addition, and following on from correspondence, I met with representatives from the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU) and BATC on this subject earlier this month.

Pakistan (Imports)

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how she will ensure that the decision to support Pakistan by the removal of duty from imported made up goods will not have a destabilising effect in the far eastern region.

Brian Wilson: The Government's view is that the removal of duty on imports of made up goods from Pakistan will not have a destabilising effect on the far eastern region. Imports of most made up goods from Pakistan are currently subject to quantitative restriction by the EU under the Multi-Fibre Arrangement (MFA), limiting the effect of the removal of duty.

Gas Refuelling Points

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many public refuelling points in the UK, broken down by area, sell (a) liquid petroleum gas and (b) natural gas for vehicles.

Brian Wilson: The website of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association (www.lpga.co.uk) gives a regional breakdown of the number of public refuelling points in the UK. As at 13 February 2002, it is recorded as follows:
	
		
			  
		
		
			 England 840 
			 Wales 89 
			 Scotland 89 
			 Northern Ireland 21(1) 
		
	
	(1) The data for Northern Ireland were obtained from the website of the Energy Saving Trust (www.est-powershift.org.uk) as at 7 February 2002. Both websites also give further detail on regional breakdown.
	New sites are currently opening at more than one per day. On 14 February I launched a £1 million Boost initiative, as a supplement to the DTLR's PowerShift program, which aims to increase the uptake of LPG vehicles by:
	raising consumer awareness through a targeted publicity campaign;
	introducing, for the first time, grants for garages to become PowerShift approved converters;
	promoting the benefits to rural communities where motoring costs tend to be higher taking rural mid-Wales, East Anglia and the Highlands and Islands of Scotland as focus areas for the initiative; and working with manufacturers to put more production line LPG vehicles in show rooms.
	According to the Natural Gas Vehicle Association (NGVA), there are 30 sites for refuelling with natural gas in the UK, 29 in England and 1 in Scotland. According to the NGVA, third party access is possible by arrangement with the suppliers at about 50 per cent. of these sites.

Oil and Gas Directorate Posts

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Angus (Mr. Weir) of 24 January, Official Report, column 1064W, what plans she has to increase the proportion of oil and gas directorate posts in Aberdeen; and if she will make it her policy to ensure that by the next election a majority of oil and gas directorate posts are based in Aberdeen.

Brian Wilson: Oil and Gas Directorate maintains offices in both London and Aberdeen in order to provide an effective service to its wide range of clients and stakeholders. Decisions on the location of particular posts are based on operational considerations. For example, staff dealing with downstream oil issues and international oil policy are located in London; whilst staff dealing with the Scottish and north-east parts of the oil industry supply chain are located in Aberdeen. The oil and gas responsibility of Trade Partners UK are located in Glasgow.

Universal Banking Services

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made on establishing the proposed Universal Banking Service.

Douglas Alexander: While there are still issues to be resolved, substantial progress is being made towards delivery of the project as planned.

European Energy Markets

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when (a) she, (b) her Ministers and (c) officials from her Department last met (i) the European Commission, (ii) the Government of France and (iii) the Government of Germany to discuss liberalisation of European energy markets and completion of the single market in energy; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: holding answer 25 February 2002
	Ministers and officials are in frequent and regular contact with the Commission, France and Germany to take forward European energy liberalisation objectives.
	I last met Loyola de Palacio, Vice President of the Commission, in Norway in February when we discussed this topic.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is next meeting Loyola de Palacio, to discuss this topic on 7 March.

Electronics Manufacturers:

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of average profit margin in the last five years of (a) audio-visual equipment manufacturers and (b) consumer electronics manufacturers.

Brian Wilson: Information on profit margins at industry level is not available.

Electronics Manufacturers:

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the contribution to gross domestic product of (a) audio-visual equipment manufacturers and (b) consumer electronics manufacturers.

Brian Wilson: Information is not available in the precise form requested. The nearest equivalent to audio-visual equipment manufacture within the Standard Industrial Classification is SIC 32.3 (Manufacture of television and radio receivers, sound or video recording or reproducing apparatus and associated goods). This industry is estimated by ONS to have contributed 0.1 per cent. of economic activity (in terms of Gross Value Added at basic prices) in 1999, the latest year for which data are available.
	It is not possible to distinguish between manufacture for the consumer and business markets of many electronics products within the Standard Industrial Classification.

Croes Wind Power Station

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for what reason she decided not to hold a public inquiry into the proposed CEFU Croes wind power station in Cardiganshire; and how many applications of similar size have been put before her.

Brian Wilson: As with any application under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989, Ministers have to weigh up all aspects of an application consider all representations—both for and against—and come to a conclusion. In the case of the Cefn Croes application it was concluded that there was sufficient information to approve the application in principle without sending it to public inquiry.
	There has been one other application for a 60 megawatt windfarm at Humble Hill, Kielder, Northumberland. It was decided on 29 March 2001 that consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 could not be given. Copies of the Press Notice and decision letter were placed in the Libraries of the House.

Exports

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list British exports as a percentage of total exports for each of the nations to whom Britain exports in each year from 1972.

Brian Wilson: The information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Annual figures on UK exports of goods, to each country, are published by HM Customs and Excise in Business Monitor OTSA, Overseas Trade Statistics.
	Statistics on exports of goods to major trading partners, for ten years at a time, are also available from the Annual Abstract of Statistics, published by the Office for National Statistics.
	Both publications may be obtained from the Libraries of the House.

Employment Tribunals Service

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Employment Tribunals Service is permitted to exercise greater flexibility in the application of the Tribunal rules of Procedure when the respondent is a Government agency.

Alan Johnson: The Employment Tribunals Service does not exercise greater flexibility in the application of the Tribunal Rules of procedure when the respondent is a Government agency.

Employment Tribunals Service

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Employment Tribunals Service adhered to rules two and three of the rules of procedure of the Employment Tribunals Service in relation to applications lodged with the Birmingham Employment Tribunal on behalf of staff employed at HM Prison, Blackenhurst.

Alan Johnson: Yes.

Small Businesses

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the contribution small construction companies provide to (a) Government departments and (b) the economy as a whole.

Brian Wilson: holding answer 28 February 2002
	(a) Government Departments
	Data on the contribution of small construction companies to Government Departments are not held centrally.
	(b) the economy as a whole
	In 2000 small construction companies were responsible for £36.8 billion of construction (£30.7 billion in 1995 prices). This represents about 2¾ percent. of GDP. Figures for 2001 are yet to be published.

Small Businesses

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of (a) the economic benefits of procuring from smaller firms and (b) the improved value for money to be achieved by increasing competition in construction projects (i) within Government Departments and (ii) outside.

Brian Wilson: holding answer 28 February 2002
	The Government have made no assessment of either
	(a) the economic benefits of procuring from smaller firms or
	(b) the improved value for money to be achieved by increasing competition in construction projects within Government Departments.
	Over the past year the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) has undertaken research to identify the barriers to effective competition in the Government marketplace. Part of this research looked at the issues facing small firms, but not specifically in the construction sector. OGC and the Small Business Service carried out this work jointly. A range of public sector organisations were asked for their views on the impact of their procurement strategy and practice on small firms. The organisations highlighted the potential benefits of dealing with small firms: they can often bring innovation, responsiveness, flexibility and quality of service to Government work. These are all important elements of value for money.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Ministerial Trips

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list each of the overseas trips made by himself and other members of his ministerial team in each of the last four years, specifying the purpose and cost of each trip.

David Blunkett: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister on 4 February 2002, Official Report column 707W.

Victim Support

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the recent projects inspired by the victims' charter which have been put into place which give victims the opportunity to explain how crime has affected them.

Keith Bradley: There is one such project, namely, the victim personal statement scheme—which is now a national scheme.
	A key standard in the 1996 victim's charter was that victims of crime should be given the chance to say how the crime had affected them. Pilot projects to test how this might be done led to the introduction nationally of the new victim personal statement scheme with effect from 1 October 2001.
	The scheme provides a chance for victims to say how the crime has affected them, and to include anything else they wish to add. The victim personal statement then becomes part of the case papers, and will be seen by all criminal justice personnel subsequently dealing with the case.
	Fuller details of the scheme and accompanying documentation are given in Home Office Circular 35/2001 of 14 August 2001, available on the Home Office website (http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk). The scheme is being evaluated during 2002.

Anti-Terrorist Powers

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people, within his anti-terrorist powers, have been (a) held in detention, (b) appealed against this and (c) used the opportunity of judicial review; and if he will make a statement.

David Blunkett: holding answer 25 February 2002
	Nine foreign nationals have so far been detained using powers in Part IV of the Anti-Terrorism Crime and Security Act. Of those detained one has left the United Kingdom voluntarily.
	Eight of those originally detained have lodged appeals. The ninth detainee has not lodged an appeal to date.
	None of those held have sought leave to move for judicial review.

Prison Visits (Clerics)

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on what vetting procedures are carried out on clerics visiting jails in England and Wales to provide support and spiritual advice to prisoners.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 26 February 2002
	The Prison Service carries out checks to establish a job applicant's or worker's identity, reliability, integrity, eligibility and that there is no apparent threat to security. These arrangements apply to the appointment of ministers of religion.

Tetra Masts

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average annual payment was to landowners for the siting of Tetra masts in the last three years.

John Denham: The Home Office does not make payments to landowners for the siting of Terrestrial Trunked Radio System (Tetra) masts. The location of the sites, and agreements with site owners, are the responsibility of Tetra network operators. For the Airwave service this is Airwave mm02, (formerly British Telecom Airwave). Payments for the use of sites are a commercial matter between the network operator and the site owners.

Tetra Masts

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent evaluation has been made of the health risks associated with Tetra masts.

John Denham: In early 2001, the Home Office commissioned a report from the National Radiological Protection Board on the potential health risks from Terrestrial Trunked Radio System (Tetra) technology.
	The report concluded that it was unlikely that the special features of Tetra posed a hazard to health, and made recommendations for further research in the remaining areas of uncertainty. The Home Office has accepted the report and is taking forward all its recommendations in a comprehensive programme of work which is already well underway. This includes a large study commissioned by the Home Office from the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory on the possible effects of Tetra signals on cell biology. The initial results of this work are expected by April, 2002.

Antiosocial Behaviour Orders

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been issued in each police authority area.

John Denham: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member, for the Isle of Wight (Mr Turner) on 11 February 2002, Official Report, column 48W.

Entitlement Card

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions his Department has had with private companies on the feasibility of introducing an entitlement card for UK citizens; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: My officials have met with trade associations representing the financial services, retail and computer software and services industries. In the context of discussions with Post Office Ltd, officials have also met representatives of N M Rothschild & Sons who invited the ALCO Partnership to one meeting. No discussions have been held on the feasibility of an entitlement card scheme with individual private companies. However, the Association for Payment Clearing Services (APACS) (Administration) Ltd, which is a non-profit private company owned and financed by the United Kingdom's major financial institutions, was present at the discussions with the financial services industry. Also a number of Information Technology companies were present at the meeting with that industry group, the contents of which was reported to its very wide membership.

Prisoners (Self-Harm)

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) attempted hangings and (b) other acts of deliberate self-harm were recorded in prisons in England and Wales in the last two years.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 27 February 2002
	There have been 2,986 attempted hangings and 9,700 other acts of self-harm in prisons during the last two years as set out in the table.
	
		Table showing the number of attempted hangings and other acts of deliberate self-harm in prisons in England and Wales in the last two years
		
			 Year Attempted hanging Other acts of deliberate self-harm Total 
		
		
			 2000 1,395 (27 per cent.) 3,826 (73 per cent.) 5,221 
			 2001 1,591 (21 per cent.) 5,874 (79 per cent.) 7,465 
		
	
	A downward trend in the reduction of self-harm, including attempted hangings, is being sought within the Prison Services holistic three-year safer custody programme. Key elements of the programme include better identification and case management by trained staff of prisoners at risk; the establishment of mental health in-reach teams; and improved physical environments within prisons.

Police Authorities (Research)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were employed in a research capacity in each police authority in each year since the inception of the CPS as a percentage of (a) turnover and (b) the number of people employed.

John Denham: holding answer 27 February 2002
	The information requested is not collected. The deployment of resources within a police force is a matter for individual Chief Officers of Police.

TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONS

Broadspring Wood, (Buckinghamshire)

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  if he will make a statement concerning the proposed sale of Broadspring wood, Denham, Buckinghamshire by the Highways Agency;
	(2)  what steps (a) the Highways Agency and (b) his Department have taken to stop (i) the dumping of spoil materials, (ii) the creation of bunds and a car park area and (iii) the introduction of pre-fabricated buildings in Broadspring wood, Denham, Buckinghamshire,
	(3)  when the Highways Agency learned that the Uxbridge gun club was (a) bringing spoil material into Broadspring wood, Denham, Buckinghamshire and (b) creating car parking areas and bunds, therein;
	(4)  when the decision was taken by the Highways Agency to sell Broadspring wood, Denham, Buckinghamshire, to the Uxbridge gun club.

David Jamieson: The decision was taken by the Highways Agency to sell Broadspring Wood, Denham, Buckinghamshire to the Uxbridge and District Rifle Club on 16 August 2001 following professional advice and opinion on its status, condition and potential. The Club had operating on the land under Licence since 1 June 2000. There were no concerns raised about their activities.
	The Highways Agency learned that the Uxbridge and District Rifle Club were bringing spoil material into Broadspring Wood, Denham Buckinghamshire and were creating car parking areas and bunds in November 2001.
	A letter was sent to the Uxbridge and District Rifle Club on 21 November 2001 requesting that no further activity of any sort was carried out on site. A letter was also sent from our solicitors on 23 November 2001 addressed to the solicitor acting for the Rifle Club requesting that the depositing or permitting to be deposited of waste material on the site and access ways leading to it be stopped immediately. A second letter was sent by the Highways Agency on 1 February 2002 pointing out that we were aware that the Rifle Club had changed the use of the land by the inclusion of bunding on the land and using it as a combat area, that this should stop and the Rifle Club should use the land as set out in their licence. The Highways Agency was unaware of the introduction of pre-fabricated buildings in Broadspring Wood until now. The Highways Agency have arranged for their Managing Agent to urgently inspect the land and provide a report.
	The sale of this land from the Highways Agency to the Uxbridge and District Rifle Club was agreed in good faith last summer. However, following these most recent events officials in the Highways Agency are conducting a full review of the case.

Tramway Service

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to encourage the development of a tramway service within the Greater London area.

Sally Keeble: The Government's Ten Year Plan for Transport envisages at least two tram or guided bus schemes in London. However, this is a matter for the Mayor of London and Transport for London. I understand that Transport for London (TfL) is considering four new Xintermediate mode schemes", so called because they are neither bus nor rail but share some characteristics of both. They are: Cross-River Transit; Uxbridge Road Transit; Greenwich Waterfront Transit; and East London Transit.
	TfL has made no decision yet on whether to take any of these forward. TfL's Business Plan only provides for one to be taken forward as a tram scheme. TfL will need to review their priorities and take firm decisions on the four proposals in the light of the forthcoming Spending Review settlement.

State Aid Funding

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many applications for state aid funding have been refused in the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Sally Keeble: Without doing an exhaustive search of Departmental records, I am aware of only one occasion in the last three years on which the European Commission withheld approval for state aid in the field of the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions or its predecessor the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions (excluding environment functions transferred to DEFRA). This was the state aid relating to the Partnership Investment Programme.

Partnership Investment Programme

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps he is taking to offer alternative funding to local authorities which had planned to use the Partnership Investment Programme.

Sally Keeble: The Partnership Investment Programme was only available for use by English Partnerships and has never been available to local authorities.
	Following its closure in 1999, significant extra resources were made available to RDAs to help compensate for the loss of PIP: £60 million in 2000–01, rising to £150 million in 2001–02; thereafter, land and property funding would form part of a new single RDA economic development and regeneration budget, with increases of £350 million in 2002–03 and £500 million in 2003–04.
	In addition, we have introduced five new land and property regeneration schemes which partially replace PIP. The new schemes will enable RDAs and English Partnerships to support a wide range of land and property regeneration projects, including projects which can be taken forward in partnership with the private sector.

Travel Methods

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proportion of journeys were made by (a) public transport, (b) bicycle and (c) on foot as the main method of travel in (i) St Helens, South, (ii) the North West and (iii) England in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Sally Keeble: The latest available data relate to the three-year period 1998–2000. The National Travel Survey, from which estimates are derived, does not allow disaggregation of data below county level. At county level, estimates for bicycle use are based on very small numbers and should be regarded with caution.
	The proportion of journeys made by (a) public transport, (b) bicycles and (c) on foot as the main method of travel for residents of (i) Merseyside, (ii) the north-west and (iii) England are given in the table: 1998–2000
	
		
			  Merseyside North West and Merseyside England 
		
		
			 Public Transport 13 10 9 
			 Bicycle 1 1 2 
			 Foot 25 24 26

Departmental Minutes

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will place in the Library copies of departmental minutes recording conversations between Sir Richard Mottram and Mr Martin Sixsmith.

Stephen Byers: Under Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information it is not the practice to disclose details of internal meetings. I refer the hon. Gentleman to the statement made by Sir Richard Mottram, the permanent secretary of my Department, on Monday 25 February, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

Departmental Minutes

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the departmental minutes for which Sir Richard Mottram was responsible since he became permanent secretary of the Department.

Stephen Byers: It is not the usual practice to disclose details of internal communications and meetings in accordance with Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Departmental Development

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how often the Department has applied the special urgency provisions in paragraph 22 of Circular 18/84 (Development by Government Departments) to a development by the department; and if he will make a statement.

Sally Keeble: The Department does not maintain a record of cases where it has relied on the special urgency provisions set out in Circular 18/84. Development by the Department generally has to go through a tendering procedure; in these circumstances it is unlikely that the Department would have to use the special urgency provisions.

Shoreham Port Authority

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list (a) members of the Shoreham Port Authority appointed in the last 30 years, (b) their dates of appointment and length of office and (c) the nominating bodies where appropriate.

David Jamieson: holding answer 28 February 2002
	The information requested can only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Hackney Carriage Licences

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the criteria local authorities should consider when assessing the application for a Hackney carriage licence.

Sally Keeble: A hackney carriage must have fewer than nine passenger seats; any further criteria for determining whether a vehicle is suitable for licensing as a hackney carriage are formulated by individual local licensing authorities.

Learner Drivers

David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he plans to consult on measures to improve the safety of novice drivers.

David Jamieson: As stated in the Government's Road Safety Strategy Tomorrow's Roads—Safer for Everyone, we want to ensure that new drivers have a broader and more extensive experience of driving conditions before they take the practical driving test. We have therefore published today a consultation document Introducing a More Structured Approach to Learning to Drive. This sets out a wide range of options for improving the safety of newly qualified drivers. Comments have been requested by 7 June 2002. All the views received will be considered carefully before any decisions are taken on the way forward.
	Copies of the document have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Pensioner Bus Passes

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he plans to introduce a nationwide pensioner bus pass.

Sally Keeble: We have no immediate plans to pursue such a scheme.

Historic Cities

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of urban capacity studies on housing development and the character of historic cities.

Sally Keeble: Local planning authorities are responsible for undertaking the urban housing capacity studies required by Planning Policy Guidance Note 3 Housing (PPG3). We expect these studies to lead to updated development plans that given priority to reusing brownfields for new housing in preference to greenfields. We have research underway to consider the implementation of PPG3 and this will report the progress made by local authorities in carrying out urban housing capacity studies. The research is considering the influence of capacity studies on housing development but will not report specifically on their impact on the character of historic cities.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Environment Council

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on (a) matters discussed and (b) decisions taken at the European Union Environment Council on 29 to 30 October, indicating on which matters votes were taken and how, in such instances, the United Kingdom voted.

Michael Meacher: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, on 28 January 2002, Official Report, column 94W.

End of Life Vehicle Directive

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action she has taken with regard to the European End of Life Vehicle Directive; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: The EC Directive on End of Life Vehicles (ELV) passed into European law in October 2000 and requires member states to transpose the Directive into national legislation by 21 April 2002. The Department for Trade and Industry leads on the implementation of the majority of the Directive, however my Department leads on the implementation of improved treatment facility standards under Article 6 and Annex I of the Directive. An initial Consultation paper was issued last year, and a further paper is expected to be issued shortly.

Refrigerators and Freezers

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will place in the Library details of information and advice given by her Department to consumers about purchasing refrigerators and freezers from May 2001 to date.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 11 February 2002
	Copies of the advice leaflet for householders were placed in the Libraries of both houses on publication in December 2001. The leaflet was produced by DEFRA, DTI and the Environment Agency.

Refrigerators and Freezers

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on how many occasions in 2000 and 2001 UKREP were requested to establish the understanding of other EU states on its applicability of EU Regulation 2037/2000 to matters connected with the disposal of refrigerators and freezer insulating materials.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 28 February 2002
	My officials and those from EU Member States met regularly during 2000 and 2001 to discuss EC Regulation 2037/20000 at meetings of the Management Committee on the implementation of the Regulation. Officials also contacted colleagues in other Member States informally regarding the issue of implementation. The Department therefore did not request UKREP to take up this matter separately.

Fly Ash

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what procedures are in place to ensure regulation of the disposal of fly ash from UK incinerators; and what the disposal routes for fly ash are from each operating municipal waste incinerator in the United Kingdom.

Michael Meacher: Fly ash is incorporated into air pollution control residues which are special waste and subject to the Duty of Care and the Special Wastes Regulations. Currently, all fly ash from municipal solid waste incinerators is sent to sites licensed for special waste.
	The Environment Agency is carrying out a thorough investigation into the solid residues from all MWIs. I will ensure that the hon. Gentleman receives a copy of their report when it is published, and that a copy is placed in the Library of the House.

CO2 Emissions

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the change has been in CO2 emissions in the UK in the past three years; and what estimates she has made of change in the next three years.

Michael Meacher: UK CO2 emissions expressed in million tonnes of Carbon (MtC) for the years 1997–2000 were 152.5, 153.2, 150.8 and 152.1 MtC respectively. The 2000 figure is provisional. Projections are made on a five year basis and the projected figure for CO2 emissions in 2005 is 149.1 MtC.

Warm Front Grants

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what data she has collated on the number of householders in privately rented accommodation who have been unable to obtain warm front grants because they have not been able to obtain the landlord's permission for works to be carried out; and in how many of these cases refusal to grant permission has resulted from an unwillingness on the part of the landlord to participate in a leasing agreement related to the installation of a central heating system.

Michael Meacher: Work in private sector landlords' properties is only undertaken once a no rent rise agreement is in place. This requirement was introduced following consultation on the proposed scheme in 1999. Many groups representing tenants and older people expressed concern that some private sector landlords would use the grant-funded improvements to justify an increase in rent. Agreements are time-limited to either one year for insulation measures only or two years where heating measures are installed.
	In the period June 2000 to January 2002 some 32,400 private sector landlords agreed to the no rent rise agreement. This represents about 5 per cent. of all applications accepted under the scheme.
	In the same period, 8,400 tenants had their applications turned down by the landlord. The precise reasons in each case are not known, but we are now investigating these. While there has been very little concern expressed on this issue, we do continue to keep it under review.

Warm Front Grants

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average amount of a Warm Front plus grant has been.

Michael Meacher: The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES) in England is now marketed as the Warm Front Team. The scheme was launched on 1 June 2000 and provides two levels of financial assistance for the installation of insulation and heating measures dependent upon the needs of the householder and the property type:
	HEES—£1,500 for low income households with children under 16, disabled persons or suffering long-term sickness on a qualifying benefit; and
	HEES Plus—£2,500 for over-60s on an income-related benefit.
	Between June 2000 and January 2002 the average HEES Plus grant was £664.

Waste Disposal

Angela Watkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people were convicted of fly tipping in 2001; and what sentences were imposed.

Michael Meacher: Both local authorities and the Environment Agency may prosecute for fly tipping offences. The Environment Agency keeps records of breaches to section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Until December 2001, this did not single out fly tipping offences from other instances of illegally depositing controlled waste on land. This situation changed in December 2001 and records now show whether an incident involves fly tipping. Between 1 January 2001 and 31 December 2001 the total number of Environment Agency prosecutions under section 33 of the 1990 Act were 234. Further information is as follows:
	Individuals prosecuted: 196
	Organisations prosecuted: 38
	Range of Fines: £30—£8,000
	Custodial Terms: four, ranging from one to six months
	Conditional Discharges: 25, ranging from one to two years
	Community Service: six, ranging from 80 to 220 hours
	Requirement to pay compensation: four instances, with amounts ranging from £237 to £750
	No central register is kept of local authorities' prosecutions.

Waste Disposal

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what costs were incurred in setting up the Department's CHP Club; and what its operational costs were in the financial year 2000–01.

Michael Meacher: The CHP Club provides a one-stop shop for independent information and guidance for potential and new users on the design, implementation, and operation of CHP schemes. Responsibility for the management of the Government's Energy Efficiency Best Practice programme including the CHP Club will soon be passed to The Carbon Trust. The total cost of setting up and operating the CHP Club in 2000–02 was around £200,000.

Rights of Way Orders

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she intends to consult on proposed rules for inquiries and hearings into rights of way orders coming to her for confirmation.

Alun Michael: We are today publishing our proposals for procedure rules for rights of way inquiries and hearings, on which we are inviting views by 31 May 2002. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

Parish Councils

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what appeal mechanism exists to change the categorisation of parish councils listed as barely active by the Countryside Agency.

Alun Michael: The work being undertaken by the Countryside Agency towards a national indicator of community vibrancy is not a categorisation of parish councils or their effectiveness. The components of the indicator are proxy measures of the opportunities for members of a community to contribute to community activities collected as part of the Agency's Rural Services Survey. An appeals mechanism is therefore not appropriate.
	For further details on the community vibrancy indicator and its components, I refer to the hon. Member to my answers to my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) on 24 January 2002, Official Report, column 1033W and to the hon. Member for North Wiltshire (Mr. Gray) on 14 February 2002, Official Report, column 652W.

Parish Councils

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) visits, (b) telephone calls and (c) items of correspondence her officials or officials from the Countryside Agency have sent to (i) Ellesmere rural, (ii) Grinshill, (iii) Hodnet, (iv) Hordley, (v) Petton and (vi) Whitchurch urban parish councils before categorising them as barely active.

Alun Michael: The Countryside Agency used information for its community vibrancy indicator which was gathered as part of its Rural Services Survey. As part of the survey each rural parish was sent a questionnaire form and instructions on how to complete it and the telephone number of the Xhelpline" for assistance in filling in the questionnaire. If no response was received by early December 2000, two reminders were sent (one in mid December 2000 and one in mid January 2001).
	The information was gathered as the first stage of work in progress towards the development of a national indicator. I am now aware of any other contact that either the Department or the Countryside Agency has had with the listed parishes.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Legal Aid

David Drew: To ask the Solicitor-General if she will publish the lists of the payment of legal aid to (a) solicitors, (b) barristers and (c) legal practices on an annual basis.

Rosie Winterton: I have been asked to reply.
	We have no plans to publish such a list. Records of legal aid payments are not held in a suitable format which would facilitate the production of a list of practitioners' earnings.

Prosecutions

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Solicitor-General in how many cases referred to the DPP in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years a decision was made not to prosecute; and in how many cases he contacted the (a) victims and (b) relatives of the victim.

Harriet Harman: Information held by the Department of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland indicates that directions for no prosecution issued as follows:
	
		
			 Year Persons reported for consideration of prosecution Persons in respect of whom no prosecution was directed 
		
		
			 1999 10,676 3,225 (30 per cent.) 
			 2000 10,504 3,166 (30 per cent.) 
			 2001 10,315 3,110 (30 per cent.) 
		
	
	The Department does not hold information in regard to contact with victims on their relatives in individual cases. The policy of the Department is that it will consider the proper interests of victims and witnesses at every stage of the criminal process.

Prosecutions (Conduct)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General what (a) internal and (b) external reviews have been conducted on the conduct of prosecutions, on what dates and by whom in the last three years.

Harriet Harman: holding answer 14 February 2002
	Each prosecuting authority has in place systems that support performance reviews generally, and case specific reviews when appropriate. HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate has a rolling programme of inspections covering the performance of all CPS Areas over a two-year period, and it undertakes thematic reviews of areas of prosecution work three or four times a year. With effect from 1 April it will assume responsibility for the inspection of Customs & Excise prosecutions.
	There is no central log maintained of individual internal and external reviews of the conduct of the prosecution by prosecuting authorities operating within the jurisdiction of England and Wales. Speedy collection and provision of this information could not be undertaken without disproportionate cost.

Traffic Accidents

James Gray: To ask the Solicitor-General 
	(1)  what discussions she has had with the Inspectorate of the Crown Prosecution Service about the number of Crown Court prosecutions for death by dangerous driving.
	(2)  when she intends to publish the Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate's report on sentencing policy with regard to road traffic accidents.

Harriet Harman: HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate is at present in the closing phases of a thematic review of the advice relating to, and the prosecution of, road traffic offences involving fatalities in England and Wales. The purpose of the inspection is to analyse and assess the quality of advice to police, decision-making, case preparation and presentation by the CPS in relation to those cases. It has also examined the extent, adequacy and consistency of communications and assistance provided by the CPS to relatives of the victims and witnesses in the cases. However, it does not extend to sentencing policy which is outside the remit of the Inspectorate.
	The Chief Inspector has kept me and the Attorney General informed of the progress of the inspection but we have had no other discussions about prosecutions for death by dangerous driving.
	The Chief Inspector expects to publish the report in June.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Working Conditions and Practices

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment has been made of the effect of the Working Time Directive on her Department's employees; how many employees are working in excess of 48 hours per week; what steps she is taking to reduce this number; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: Under the Working Time Regulations the Department is required to:
	inform employees that they cannot be forced to work for more than 48 hours a week on average over a 17-week period and that they can only opt out of the limit by signing a written agreement;
	keep opt out records for two years;
	check how much time each employee spends working and monitor those close to the working limit;
	keep records of night workers and offer regular health assessments; and
	check that the Department has complied with the new regulations on night work, time off, rest breaks and paid annual leave.
	In line with these responsibilities, staff were informed that there is no obligation to work more than 48 hours per week over a 17-week period but they can volunteer to do so by signing a written agreement. We instructed managers that they must avoid imposing workloads or setting deadlines that oblige their staff to work excessive hours unless it is necessary to meet operational need. In addition, we required local managers to check on staff who may work close to the limit and make arrangements to reduce hours wherever possible.
	Copies of all opt out agreements are kept for two years and currently cover two per cent. of the workforce. We also confirmed that employee terms and conditions already covered the requirements in the regulations relating to night work, time off, rest breaks and paid annual leave. The percentage of staff opting out is reviewed regularly to ensure that the number required to work in excess of the limit is kept to the absolute minimum.

Prisoners (Distance Learning)

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many prisoners undertook distance learning courses, including Open University courses, in the last 12 months for which figures are available; how many of these courses were paid for (a) at their own expense and (b) through a charitable trust or person; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: Information on the number of prisoners undertaking distance learning courses is not available. The number of prisoners in the first year of an undergraduate course at the Open University in 2000–01 in England and Wales was 144, whilst the number registered for Open University courses at all levels is 398. It is not possible to give an accurate breakdown on the numbers of courses that are self-financed or funded through a charitable trust or person; however, upwards of 950 distance learning courses were funded or part funded by charitable bodies last year.

Maintained Primary Schools

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (a) how many and (b) what percentage of pupils were in maintained primary school classes of 31 or more in each year from 1997 for (i) East Sussex Local Education Authority, (ii) the South-East region and (iii) England.

John Healey: The data requested are shown in the table:
	
		Number and percentage of pupils in one teacher classes of 31 or more in Maintained Primary Schools1 -- Position in January each year
		
			  East Sussex Local Education Authority South East Government Office Region England  
			  Number of pupils in classes of 31 or more % of pupils in classes of 31 or more Number of pupils in classes of 31 or more % of pupils in classes of 31 or more Number of pupils in classes of 31 or more % of pupils in classes of 31 or more 
		
		
			 2001 12,687 36.0 132,487 21.5 848,961 21.1 
			 2000 13,960 40.1 172,262 27.7 1,071,720 26.5 
			 1999 18,621 50.8 210,761 35.6 1,278,607 31.5 
			 1998 17,511 49.1 219,040 35.1 1,411,366 34.8 
			 1997 23,330 45.7 205,178 33.3 1,344,231 33.4 
		
	
	Source:
	Annual Schools' Census.
	1 Includes middle deemed primary schools.

Social Exclusion Unit

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to the answer of 14 February 2002, Official Report, column 555W, on the Social Exclusion Unit, what steps have been taken to train Connexions workers in child and adolescent mental health.

Ivan Lewis: It is very important that young people with mental health problems are identified quickly and referred to the specialist services that they need. Connexions personal advisers are not intended to be specialists in the area of mental health but they are being trained to identify behaviours in young people that might indicate the need for support from a specialist. To date over 1,900 Personal Advisers have either completed or are currently undertaking Connexions training.

SCOTLAND

Asylum Centre (Edinburgh)

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions she has had with ministers and officials of the Scottish Executive about the proposed asylum centre near Edinburgh.

Helen Liddell: The Scotland Office has regular contacts with the Minister for Social Justice about asylum seeker issues, including the latest Home Office proposals about the development of new centres.

Asylum Centre (Edinburgh)

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans she has to meet the Home Secretary to discuss his plans for an asylum seekers' centre near Edinburgh.

Helen Liddell: My Department is in regular contact with Lord Rooker, Home Office Minister for immigration and nationality matters, to discuss a range of issues, including those affecting asylum seekers.

Asylum Centre (Edinburgh)

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when she first learned of plans to build an asylum seekers' centre near Edinburgh; and what her policy is on the construction of the centre.

Helen Liddell: My Department keeps in regular touch with the Home Office on asylum seeker and other relevant policy issues. The former RAF Turnhouse site is one of a number of potential areas for development and will be subject to detailed consultation with relevant interests.

PRIME MINISTER

LNM Holdings

Andrew Turner: To ask the Prime Minister what arrangements are in place to ensure that officials advising him on (a) LNM's purchase of Sidex and (b) other overseas investments by UK-based companies on which he is considering making representations are (i) not influenced by and (ii) not aware of political donations by persons connected with such companies.

Tony Blair: All advice is given in accordance with the Civil Service Code and the Ministerial Code.

LNM Holdings

Andrew Turner: To ask the Prime Minister in what way writing to the Romanian Government was calculated to assist LNM Holdings to obtain the contract to purchase Sidex.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave him and the hon. Member for East Carmarthen and Dinefwr (Adam Price) on 14 February 2002, Official Report, columns 610-12W.

Press Officers

Andrew Turner: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list those press officers who reported to his officialpress spokesman and have ceased to hold office since May 1977, identifying those who have resigned due to (a) reaching retirement age and (b) completion of a predetermined term of office.

Tony Blair: It is not our policy to comment on individuals.

Business Contacts

John Whittingdale: To ask the Prime Minister on what occasion he has written to the Czech Government about the possible award of contracts to companies with British connections in the last five years.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Members for East Carmarthen and Dinefwr (Adam Price) and for Isle of Wight (Mr. Turner) on 14 February 2002, Official Report, columns 610-11W.

Hammond Inquiry Review

Martyn Jones: To ask the Prime Minister when he intends to publish Sir Anthony Hammond's review of the conclusions of the 2001 Review of the circumstances surrounding an application for naturalisation by Mr. S. P. Hinduja in 1998.

Tony Blair: I am publishing Sir Anthony Hammond's review today. I am most grateful to Sir Anthony Hammond for all his work.
	Sir Anthony Hammond remains satisfied that nothing improper has occurred in relation to the application for naturalisation by Mr. S. P. Hinduja. He also remains of the view that my right hon. Friend the Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Mandelson) and my hon. Friend the Member for North Warwickshire (Mr. O'Brien) behaved entirely properly throughout.
	I have placed a copy of the report in the Libraries of both Houses. Copies are available from the Vote Office.

HEALTH

District and Community Nurses

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many district and community nurses there are per head of population in each of the health authority areas in England and Wales.

John Hutton: holding answer 8 January 2002
	The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		NHS Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS): Qualified community and district nursing staff within each health authority area in England and rate per 100,000 population as at 30 September 2001 -- headcount
		
			  Of which  
			  All Community Nurses Number per 100,000 population District Nurses Number per 100,000 population 
		
		
			 Northern & Yorkshire 
			 Bradford HA 890 180 120 20 
			 Calderdale & Kirklees HA 950 160 120 20 
			 County Durham & Darlington HA 700 120 160 30 
			 East Riding & Hull HA 1,180 210 330 60 
			 Gateshead & Tyneside HA 460 130 80 20 
			 Leeds HA 870 120 100 10 
			 Newcastle & North Tyneside HA 640 140 120 30 
			 North Cumbria HA 390 120 100 30 
			 North Yorkshire HA 820 110 180 20 
			 Northumberland HA 450 150 100 30 
			 Sunderland HA 540 190 80 30 
			 Tees HA 950 170 150 30 
			 Wakefield HA 520 160 70 20 
			 Trent 
			  
			 Barnsley HA 310 140 40 20 
			 Doncaster HA 540 180 100 30 
			 Leicestershire HA 1,220 130 110 10 
			 Lincolnshire HA 840 130 160 30 
			 North Derbyshire HA 520 140 100 30 
			 North Nottinghamshire HA 800 210 40 10 
			 Nottingham HA 800 130 110 20 
			 Rotherham HA 370 140 60 20 
			 Sheffield HA 630 120 80 20 
			 South Humber HA 360 120 150 50 
			 Southern Derbyshire HA 790 140 300 50 
			 West Midlands 
			 Birmingham HA 1,520 150 370 40 
			 Coventry HA 440 150 50 20 
			 Dudley HA 340 110 80 30 
			 Herefordshire HA 250 150 50 30 
			 North Staffordshire HA 960 200 140 30 
			 Sandwell HA 370 130 70 30 
			 Shropshire HA 580 130 130 30 
			 Solihull HA 220 110 70 40 
			 South Staffordshire HA 900 150 140 20 
			 Walsall HA 450 170 120 40 
			 Warwickshire HA 700 140 200 40 
			 Wolverhampton HA 340 140 120 50 
			 Worcestershire HA 790 150 110 20 
			 North West 
			  
			 Bury & Rochdale HA 620 160 140 30 
			 East Lancashire HA 890 170 190 40 
			 Liverpool HA 720 160 150 30 
			 Manchester HA 700 160 140 30 
			 Morecambe Bay HA 670 220 80 30 
			 North Cheshire HA 820 260 150 50 
			 North West Lancashire HA 790 170 100 20 
			 Salford & Trafford HA 620 140 120 30 
			 Sefton HA 310 110 70 20 
			 South Cheshire HA 720 110 180 30 
			 South Lancashire HA 460 150 90 30 
			 St Helens & Knowsley HA 430 130 50 10 
			 Stockport HA 400 140 150 50 
			 West Pennine HA 550 120 130 30 
			 Wigan and Bolton HA 900 150 160 30 
			 Wirral HA 550 170 60 20 
			  
			 Eastern 
			 Bedfordshire HA 740 130 120 20 
			 Cambridgeshire HA 990 140 170 20 
			 Hertfordshire HA 1,710 160 330 30 
			 Norfolk HA 870 110 240 30 
			 North Essex HA 1,130 120 270 30 
			 South Essex HA 880 120 270 40 
			 Suffolk HA 970 140 140 20 
			  
			 London 
			  
			 Barking & Havering HA 360 90 60 10 
			 Barnet Enfield & Haringey HA 930 110 230 30 
			 Bexley Bromley & Greenwich HA 1,100 150 240 30 
			 Brent & Harrow HA 280 60 60 10 
			 Camden & Islington HA 490 130 30 10 
			 Croydon HA 460 140 100 30 
			 Ealing Hammersmith & Hounslow HA 710 100 170 20 
			 East London & City HA 840 130 120 20 
			 Hillingdon HA 380 150 90 30 
			 Kensington Chelsea & Westminster HA 1,290 300 170 40 
			 Kingston & Richmond HA 270 80 80 20 
			 Lambeth Southwark & Lewisham HA 1,190 160 350 50 
			 Merton Sutton & Wandsworth HA 1,150 180 160 20 
			 Redbridge & Waltham Forest HA 480 110 100 20 
			  
			 South East 
			  
			 Berkshire HA 1,280 160 310 40 
			 Buckinghamshire HA 1,010 150 180 30 
			 East Kent HA 750 120 280 40 
			 East Surrey HA 300 70 30 10 
			 East Sussex, Brighton & Hove HA 1,300 170 240 30 
			 Isle of Wight, Portsmouth & South East Hampshire HA 970 140 120 20 
			 North & Mid Hampshire HA 300 50 90 20 
			 Northamptonshire HA 700 110 190 30 
			 Oxfordshire HA 730 120 190 30 
			 Southampton & South West Hampshire HA 610 110 100 20 
			 West Kent HA 1,070 110 220 20 
			 West Surrey HA 1,070 160 210 30 
			 West Sussex HA 770 100 180 20 
			 South West 
			 Avon HA 1,220 120 180 20 
			 Cornwall & Isles of Scilly HA 680 140 60 10 
			 Dorset HA 840 120 170 20 
			 Gloucestershire HA 840 150 150 30 
			 North & East Devon HA 620 130 190 40 
			 Somerset HA 490 100 110 20 
			 South & West Devon HA 860 140 110 20 
			 Wiltshire HA 580 90 120 20 
		
	
	Notes: Community nurses are qualified nurses working in community psychiatry, community learning difficulties and community services. Practice nurses are not included within the definition.
	Figures are rounded to the nearest ten
	Figures exclude agency staff
	Population estimates for 2000 based on 1991 data
	Source:
	Department of Health non-medical workforce census
	Office for National Statistics (ONS)

City of London Corporation (Events)

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those functions, engagements and events which Ministers, his officials and advisers have attended which have been sponsored, funded, promoted and hosted by the City of London Corporation since 1997.

Hazel Blears: According to our records there have been no such events.

Delayed Discharges

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the variations that exist in delayed discharges between districts served by the same NHS acute hospital trust.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 11 February 2002
	Any variation in management of delayed discharges from an acute hospital should be managed through the local capacity planning group, which includes representatives of the acute trust, primary care trusts and social services.

Repair and Maintenance

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the outstanding repair and maintenance backlog figures were in each health authority in each of the last two years.

John Hutton: Figures collected which generally reflect the cost of outstanding repair and maintenance of hospitals is known as the Xcost to achieve Estatecode condition B". In relation to a building's physical condition this is the condition whereby the property is considered to be physically sound, operationally safe and exhibits only minor deterioration.
	The table shows costs to achieve Estatecode condition B (physical condition) for the year 1999–2000, grouped into each health authority in England, in column 1. Similar costs for the year 2000–01 in column 2 are still in the process of collection and validation. Where figures have been received they have been included, gaps having been filled with extrapolated estimates based on the previous year's return.
	Special Health Authorities (SHA), figures are only collected in connection with Special Hospitals and therefore exclude costs relating to all other SHA organisations (e.g. Family Health Services Appeal Authority, Commission for Health Improvement, NHS Information Authority).
	Last year's returns (1999–2000) saw the total backlog reduce for the first time since 1994–95. Whilst this year has seen a small increase, backlog maintenance costs are holding relatively firm when taking into consideration that the collection of data from Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) has probably introduced a number of properties whose backlog maintenance costs were not identified in previous returns. The continuation of major capital investment in new buildings, and improvements to existing buildings, should see the level of backlog maintenance costs begin to fall again over the coming years.
	
		
			 Health Authority Cost to Achieve Estate Code Condition B 1999–2000 £ Cost to Achieve Estate Code Condition B 2000–01 £ 
		
		
			 Avon 57,879,000 57,628,261 
			 Barking and Havering 28,934,000 30,681,170 
			 Barnet, Enfield and Haringey 46,206,000 37,795,400 
			 Barnsley 2,110,000 4,071,200 
			 Bedfordshire 12,804,000 10,896,116 
			 Berkshire 74,205,000 75,519,900 
			 Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich 70,395,000 35,365,766 
			 Birmingham 172,926,000 180,511,622 
			 Bradford 26,722,000 21,659,290 
			 Brent and Harrow 29,783,000 33,178,000 
			 Buckinghamshire 30,607,000 18,326,745 
			 Bury and Rochdale 7,539,000 6,541,763 
			 Calderdale and Kirklees 52,980,000 44,382,608 
			 Cambridgeshire 33,866,000 36,816,585 
			 Camden and Islington 79,819,000 78,892,959 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 13,279,000 21,470,477 
			 County Durham 13,538,000 26,840,961 
			 Coventry 74,391,000 72,291,500 
			 Croydon 31,100,000 18,559,930 
			 Doncaster 14,368,000 9,469,900 
			 Dorset 10,203,000 67,739,932 
			 Dudley 28,070,000 27,943,484 
			 Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow 96,230,000 73,992,837 
			 East Kent 11,517,000 24,042,500 
			 East Lancashire 29,117,000 18,712,286 
			 East London and the City 113,466,000 104,846,918 
			 East Riding 59,189,000 59,226,933 
			 East Surrey 4,802,000 1,632,000 
			 East Sussex, Brighton and Hove 18,970,000 17,150,000 
			 Gateshead and South Tyneside 7,228,000 7,471,259 
			 Gloucestershire 15,704,000 12,671,520 
			 Herefordshire 7,661,000 887,192 
			 Hertfordshire 80,084,000 61,171,228 
			 Hillingdon 6,030,000 33,536,960 
			 Isle of Wight, Portsmouth & South East Hampshire 9,422,000 17,661,800 
			 Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster 63,276,000 41,970,834 
			 Kingston and Richmond 8,667,000 2,133,609 
			 Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham 126,844,000 164,393,813 
			 Leeds 81,440,000 112,016,222 
			 Leicestershire 81,519,000 64,954,896 
			 Lincolnshire 32,449,000 29,257,000 
			 Liverpool 27,675,000 35,316,000 
			 Manchester 110,612,000 107,788,162 
			 Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth 35,151,000 36,304,150 
			 Morecambe Bay 11,700,000 17,267,500 
			 Newcastle and North Tyneside 44,542,000 52,470,731 
			 Norfolk 30,123,000 27,338,522 
			 North and East Devon 8,103,000 13,433,305 
			 North and Mid Hampshire 17,216,000 11,807,472 
			 North Cheshire 3,201,000 3,143,000 
			 North Cumbria 20,268,000 21,159,255 
			 North Derbyshire 5,748,000 4,257,502 
			 North Essex 38,632,000 24,968,083 
			 North Nottinghamshire 13,211,000 17,325,450 
			 North Staffordshire 40,824,000 44,686,500 
			 North West Lancashire 33,003,000 38,845,982 
			 North Yorkshire 23,115,000 26,805,119 
			 Northamptonshire 21,652,000 21,750,184 
			 Northumberland 15,984,000 12,311,689 
			 Nottingham 71,949,000 82,289,904 
			 Oxfordshire 52,084,000 41,178,872 
			 Redbridge and Waltham Forest 63,457,000 5,635,200 
			 Rotherham 4,306,000 3,777,250 
			 Salford and Trafford 17,861,000 18,532,274 
			 Sandwell 7,681,000 6,871,512 
			 Sefton 10,679,000 20,222,200 
			 Sheffield 27,142,000 26,287,325 
			 Shropshire 35,628,000 55,049,705 
			 Solihull 1,656,000 1,569,000 
			 Somerset 10,211,000 13,517,000 
			 South and West Devon 13,210,000 19,035,000 
			 South Cheshire 5,266,000 19,296,792 
			 South Essex 17,333,000 7,375,125 
			 South Humber 5,073,000 3,545,000 
			 South Lancashire 4,855,000 3,094,769 
			 South Staffordshire 10,283,000 3,690,103 
			 Southampton and South West Hampshire 24,627,000 28,236,352 
			 Southern Derbyshire 4,565,000 7,363,376 
			 Special Trusts 9,022,000 1,195,000 
			 St. Helen's and Knowsley 8,095,000 25,142,950 
			 Stockport 16,168,000 36,626,000 
			 Suffolk 31,056,000 27,007,000 
			 Sunderland 11,621,000 11,269,000 
			 Tees 46,361,000 37,740,100 
			 Wakefield 30,028,000 34,121,921 
			 Walsall 7,402,000 9,302,460 
			 Warwickshire 6,093,000 6,095,105 
			 West Kent 78,524,000 39,441,283 
			 West Pennine 10,207,000 8,816,506 
			 West Surrey 21,332,000 59,427,019 
			 West Sussex 50,027,000 41,010,825 
			 Wigan and Bolton 12,343,000 15,774,727 
			 Wiltshire 30,824,000 70,338,810 
			 Wirral 8,877,000 10,546,724 
			 Wolverhampton 18,831,000 16,203,500 
			 Worcestershire 23,655,000 22,694,624 
			  
			 Total 3,074,431,000 3,119,417,304

Dentistry

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) percentage of the NHS budget and (b) amount of money invested in NHS dentists, broken down by health authority, in (i) 1979, (ii) 1992, (iii) 1997 and (iv) 2001 or the most recent available date was.

Hazel Blears: Table 1 shows the total gross and net spend on general dental services and the proportion that national gross and net general dental service expenditure represented of national gross and net National Health Service expenditure for the years 1979–80, 1992–93, 1997–98 and 2000–02.
	General Dental Services expenditure for 1979–80 is not available at health authority level.
	Table 2 gives General Dental Service gross and net fees after deductions of patient charges by Family Health Service Authority in 1992–93.
	In April 1996, FHSAs were replaced by health authorities. Table 3 gives General Dental Service gross and net fees by health authority in 1997–98 and 2000–01.
	Fee expenditure covers dentists' claims for treating patients and patient registration payments. It excludes some other payments to dentists where breakdown by health authority is not collected centrally, for example reimbursement of practice rates.
	Figures for all GDS payments are included in table 1 and this explains why the totals in table 1 are higher than those in tables 2 and 3.
	Funding for community and hospital dental services is not collected centrally.
	Personal dental services spend has also been omitted as PDS are a relatively recent innovation and data cannot be provided for all the years in question.
	
		Table 1: Gross and net expenditure on general dental services: national totals and as a percentage of total gross and net National Health Service expenditure. Financial years 1979–80, 1992–93, 1997–98 and 2000–01
		
			  1979–80 GrossNet 1992–93 GrossNet 1997–98 GrossNet 2000–01 GrossNet 
		
		
			 Spend £336 m £267 m £1,306 m £911 m £1,348 m £959 m £1,555 m £1,102 m 
			 Proportion 4.3% 3.6% 4.4% 3.3% 3.6% 2.8% 3.2% 2.5% 
		
	
	
		Table 2: General Dental Service: Gross and net fees paid by Family Health Service Authority in 1992–93 (England)
		
			 FHSA 1992–93Gross fees (£)Net fees (£) 
		
		
			 Avon 25,689,470 16,818,209 
			 Barking & Havering 9,547,621 6,378,739 
			 Barnet 6,828,213 4,932,644 
			 Barnsley 5,314,981 3,821,505 
			 Bedfordshire 12,141,446 8,173,197 
			 Berkshire 18,980,756 12,456,945 
			 Birmingham 26,149,608 19,195,553 
			 Bolton 6,505,716 4,494,973 
			 Bradford 11,960,533 8,300,095 
			 Brent & Harrow 13,187,497 9,760,239 
			 Bromley 5,787,781 4,127,140 
			 Buckinghamshire 15,299,511 10,143,357 
			 Bury 5,089,635 3,620,804 
			 Calderdale 5,641,094 3,773,835 
			 Cambridgeshire 16,110,650 10,323,967 
			 Camden & Islington 11,470,159 8,482,642 
			 Cheshire 25,406,671 16,803,599 
			 City & East London 15,632,632 12,687,312 
			 Cleveland 14,916,635 10,935,077 
			 Cornwall & Isles of Scilly 11,962,609 8,277,274 
			 Coventry 7,948,665 5,621,111 
			 Croydon 10,142,496 7,007,275 
			 Cumbria 12,187,230 7,907,774 
			 Derbyshire 21,766,157 14,541,930 
			 Devon 28,542,635 18,986,111 
			 Doncaster 8,045,380 5,779,074 
			 Dorset 18,700,697 11,743,782 
			 Dudley 7,374,850 4,775,060 
			 Durham 13,438,473 9,731,117 
			 Ealing, Hammersmith & Hounslow 18,965,515 13,815,881 
			 East Sussex 20,959,274 13,778,567 
			 Enfield & Haringey 12,010,814 9,081,691 
			 Essex 38,622,162 25,942,200 
			 Gateshead 4,668,650 3,384,106 
			 Gloucestershire 14,450,340 9,146,825 
			 Greenwich & Bexley 11,585,178 8,180,494 
			 Hampshire 41,340,617 26,014,190 
			 Hereford & Worcester 16,674,647 10,790,498 
			 Hertfordshire 29,934,974 19,458,033 
			 Hillingdon 6,962,919 4,439,277 
			 Humberside 20,008,902 13,726,467 
			 Isle of Wight 3,384,187 2,194,837 
			 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster 9,515,642 7,179,382 
			 Kent 36,954,747 24,850,553 
			 Kingston & Richmond 6,661,616 4,556,391 
			 Kirklees 9,905,001 6,822,425 
			 Lambeth, Southwark & Lewisham 21,152,246 15,963,434 
			 Lancashire 35,735,834 24,903,147 
			 Leeds 20,736,896 14,212,809 
			 Leicestershire 21,237,939 14,383,837 
			 Lincolnshire 12,942,160 8,418,869 
			 Liverpool 13,315,109 10,691,778 
			 Manchester 14,874,341 11,605,637 
			 Merton, Sutton & Wandsworth 15,884,061 11,050,940 
			 Newcastle-upon-Tyne 7,045,196 5,120,019 
			 Norfolk 19,856,212 12,985,307 
			 North Tyneside 4,887,665 3,381,003 
			 North Yorkshire 19,128,455 12,079,722 
			 Northamptonshire 13,487,400 8,896,588 
			 Northumberland 6,880,182 4,684,270 
			 Nottinghamshire 25,672,988 17,510,978 
			 Oldham 6,166,102 4,567,231 
			 Oxfordshire 13,267,481 8,705,126 
			 Redbridge & Waltham Forest 12,106,660 8,846,167 
			 Rochdale 5,297,386 3,879,942 
			 Rotherham 5,698,755 4,141,233 
			 Salford 6,502,921 4,958,003 
			 Salop 10,078,928 6,542,769 
			 Sandwell 7,186,188 5,277,666 
			 Sefton 7,971,166 5,539,600 
			 Sheffield 14,369,320 10,015,997 
			 Solihull 4,877,356 3,181,364 
			 Somerset 13,010,423 8,245,151 
			 South Tyneside 3,581,896 2,700,910 
			 St. Helens & Knowsley 8,432,364 6,486,495 
			 Staffordshire 22,641,275 15,159,740 
			 Stockport 8,463,678 5,522,368 
			 Suffolk 17,485,963 11,102,144 
			 Sunderland 6,681,971 5,013,098 
			 Surrey 27,270,661 16,762,260 
			 Tameside 5,833,725 4,246,137 
			 Trafford 6,923,506 4,721,514 
			 Wakefield 8,330,348 5,606,803 
			 Walsall 6,045,629 4,328,271 
			 Warwickshire 11,178,481 7,120,447 
			 West Sussex 20,407,289 12,863,878 
			 Wigan 8,247,193 5,928,956 
			 Wiltshire 12,741,558 8,141,841 
			 Wirral 8,911,593 6,289,215 
			 Wolverhampton 5,546,426 3,880,566 
			  
			 England 1,242,467,909 848,463,391 
		
	
	
		Table 3: General Dental Service Gross and Net fees paid by Health Authority in 1996–97 and 2000–01 (England)
		
			 Health Authority 1997–98 Gross fees (£)Net fees (£) 2000–01 Gross fees (£)Net fees (£) 
		
		
			 Avon 26,695,689 18,095,057 30,222,996 20,671,232 
			 Barking and Havering 10,907,046 7,534,452 12,592,961 8,727,047 
			 Barnet 7,178,206 5,628,409 9,594,294 7,577,431 
			 Barnsley 5,896,790 4,121,866 6,726,175 4,579,009 
			 Bedfordshire 12,596,585 8,690,993 14,301,611 9,501,398 
			 Berkshire 17,968,153 12,723,585 19,433,485 13,502,928 
			 Bexley and Greenwich 11,525,223 8,540,095 12,846,047 9,453,967 
			 Birmingham 28,263,508 21,156,469 31,420,372 23,868,614 
			 Bradford 12,070,620 8,466,663 13,551,092 9,339,143 
			 Brent and Harrow 14,113,425 10,660,067 15,912,046 12,041,914 
			 Bromley 6,210,919 4,578,070 6,664,389 4,816,402 
			 Buckinghamshire 13,086,414 9,146,993 14,983,718 10,387,784 
			 Bury and Rochdale 10,759,884 7,721,361 12,065,825 8,543,021 
			 Calderdale and Kirklees 16,823,218 11,334,844 19,233,259 12,938,319 
			 Cambridge — — 17,615,204 11,242,615 
			 Cambridge and Huntingdon 9,459,213 5,981,792 — — 
			 Camden and Islington 12,456,865 9,548,586 14,118,373 10,959,307 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 10,691,652 7,664,884 11,896,859 8,440,704 
			 County Durham 14,194,283 10,142,733 16,750,262 11,707,664 
			 Coventry 7,959,410 5,644,393 9,141,212 6,277,397 
			 Croydon 9,423,754 6,783,659 10,314,150 7,474,945 
			 Doncaster 8,794,538 6,209,241 10,140,965 6,971,065 
			 Dorset 17,605,810 11,147,262 20,399,566 12,702,827 
			 Dudley 7,674,111 5,009,658 8,300,147 5,376,106 
			 Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith 20,291,362 15,076,481 23,125,121 17,346,804 
			 East and North Hertfordshire 15,081,661 9,838,157 16,931,910 11,016,024 
			 East Kent 14,203,534 9,883,322 16,848,636 11,646,832 
			 East Lancashire 13,328,457 9,434,339 13,924,438 9,762,940 
			 East London and The City 16,692,731 14,201,723 20,189,357 17,297,054 
			 East Norfolk 17,098,361 11,504,639 — — 
			 East Riding 13,410,687 9,471,791 15,347,018 10,743,247 
			 East Surrey 9,891,052 6,245,951 10,631,564 6,686,408 
			 East Sussex, Brighton and Hove 20,634,150 13,676,708 23,240,422 15,043,952 
			 Enfield and Haringey 15,636,046 12,182,647 17,726,993 14,054,462 
			 Gateshead and South Tyneside 9,670,056 6,961,626 11,095,972 7,905,166 
			 Gloucestershire 10,800,989 7,818,584 11,873,999 8,632,490 
			 Herefordshire 4,503,566 2,761,070 5,023,409 3,233,832 
			 Hillingdon 7,500,302 4,842,188 8,031,753 5,261,382 
			 Isle of Wight 3,222,949 2,235,953 3,558,463 2,387,895 
			 Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster 9,513,317 7,635,181 11,009,319 9,095,710 
			 Kingston and Richmond 6,820,980 4,700,420 7,427,915 5,284,795 
			 Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham 21,808,912 17,007,759 24,383,845 18,798,384 
			 Leeds 20,747,627 14,283,916 23,011,757 15,731,791 
			 Leicestershire 23,032,271 15,480,230 26,157,959 17,635,700 
			 Lincolnshire 13,698,632 8,515,283 16,470,226 10,017,768 
			 Liverpool 14,602,852 11,820,069 15,511,247 12,363,726 
			 Manchester 14,786,881 11,623,968 16,956,682 13,133,820 
			 Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth 16,532,188 11,895,894 18,888,512 13,497,410 
			 Morecambe Bay 7,911,473 5,068,765 8,752,528 5,436,838 
			 Newcastle and North Tyneside 13,020,549 9,210,902 14,426,907 10,081,290 
			 Norfolk — — 23,084,172 14,752,617 
			 North and East Devon 11,616,943 7,722,632 14,900,019 9,718,826 
			 North and Mid Hampshire 11,987,603 7,276,304 13,811,575 8,291,087 
			 North Cheshire 8,065,267 5,618,048 9,201,269 6,289,200 
			 North Cumbria 6,977,920 4,625,956 8,324,241 5,393,558 
			 North Derbyshire 8,635,375 5,782,520 9,826,608 6,383,702 
			 North Essex 24,836,225 16,175,977 28,996,704 18,378,601 
			 North Nottinghamshire 10,504,869 7,027,738 13,015,532 8,541,020 
			 North Staffordshire 9,168,480 6,372,061 11,164,923 7,503,940 
			 North West Anglia 8,381,662 5,604,647 — — 
			 North West Lancashire 14,053,803 9,665,063 15,876,971 10,914,906 
			 North Yorkshire 18,855,394 11,909,000 21,934,881 13,677,114 
			 Northamptonshire 15,396,436 9,638,637 16,996,087 10,630,368 
			 Northumberland 7,775,189 5,202,598 8,631,599 5,572,248 
			 Nottingham 19,654,449 14,016,870 22,680,007 15,902,936 
			 Oxfordshire 10,123,670 6,901,639 13,211,776 9,016,236 
			 Portsmouth and SE Hampshire 12,246,552 7,752,539 12,849,206 8,285,179 
			 Redbridge and Waltham Forest 13,850,541 10,416,877 16,227,515 12,169,203 
			 Rotherham 6,195,968 4,418,379 7,121,705 4,937,983 
			 Salford and Trafford 14,374,477 10,298,361 15,982,211 11,394,519 
			 Sandwell 8,259,814 6,275,135 10,120,163 7,697,578 
			 Sefton 8,949,986 6,068,754 8,977,900 5,839,930 
			 Sheffield 15,770,640 10,761,759 17,822,663 11,978,032 
			 Shropshire 8,449,699 5,753,333 9,656,874 6,826,897 
			 Solihull 4,267,878 2,915,640 4,755,801 3,357,235 
			 Somerset 11,877,042 7,555,204 13,977,748 9,021,720 
			 South and West Devon 14,571,028 10,235,971 16,949,424 11,604,801 
			 South Cheshire 18,341,857 12,052,218 19,463,059 12,772,770 
			 South Derbyshire 12,597,026 8,458,837 14,945,383 9,805,330 
			 South Essex 16,588,566 10,969,734 22,038,580 14,438,504 
			 South Humber 7,331,513 5,075,708 8,604,420 5,767,722 
			 South Lancashire 7,020,833 4,868,479 8,621,431 5,861,692 
			 South Staffordshire 12,187,233 8,187,510 13,152,793 8,545,189 
			 Southampton & SW Hampshire 13,810,726 8,802,230 14,460,319 8,988,105 
			 St Helens and Knowsley 9,599,999 7,308,781 9,916,814 7,401,831 
			 Stockport 8,888,024 5,639,365 10,150,394 6,361,797 
			 Suffolk 17,962,735 11,435,899 20,828,480 12,954,879 
			 Sunderland 7,376,516 5,419,213 8,708,249 6,246,887 
			 Tees 17,207,541 12,525,413 19,980,340 14,363,518 
			 Wakefield 8,939,570 5,957,952 10,069,127 6,644,321 
			 Walsall 5,980,212 4,144,685 6,617,252 4,514,604 
			 Warwickshire 10,503,638 6,659,454 12,201,295 7,943,540 
			 West Hertfordshire 14,655,984 9,668,185 17,686,428 11,781,345 
			 West Kent 22,427,972 16,046,432 28,354,258 20,025,401 
			 West Pennine 14,566,823 10,490,795 16,200,383 11,446,708 
			 West Surrey 15,325,610 9,943,013 16,607,638 10,852,501 
			 West Sussex 19,846,120 12,966,918 22,987,385 14,818,360 
			 Wigan and Bolton 17,355,841 12,090,745 18,805,174 13,058,149 
			 Wiltshire 11,400,715 7,621,795 14,992,129 9,805,807 
			 Wirral 10,012,603 7,020,720 11,672,250 8,060,602 
			 Wolverhampton 5,984,369 4,238,194 7,228,158 5,162,669 
			 Worcestershire 13,535,748 8,747,273 14,466,035 9,294,079 
			  
			 England 1,271,091,313 882,239,885 1,453,626,305 1,000,191,852 
		
	
	Drafting Guidelines are attached to the PQ Reference Guide.

Correspondence

James Cran: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when a substantive reply will be given to Mrs. T. Harper's letter of 28 November 2001, concerning care homes.

Jacqui Smith: A reply was sent on 21 February.

Macmillan Cancer Relief

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions his Department has had with Her Majesty's Treasury on the VAT on building costs paid by Macmillan Cancer Relief.

John Hutton: Responsibility for the Value Added Tax law rests with by right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Officials from the Department have recently accompanied officials from Customs and Excise at an initial meeting with Macmillan.

NHS Estates

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when NHS Estates was disposed of to a partnership company; and if he will place in the Library (a) the partnership agreement, (b) a list of the unwanted NHS Estates disposed of, (c) the partners in the partnership and (d) the names and interests of the partnership company board.

John Hutton: National Health Service Estates has not yet selected a preferred partner for the disposal of surplus estate.
	The transaction is not due to take place until October 2002 at which point further details will be available.

Residential Homes

Bridget Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial assistance he has made available to (a) local authorities and (b) private and voluntary sector residential homes for the elderly to help them bring those homes up to the standards set by the Government.

Jacqui Smith: The resources provided for personal social services are increasing by, on average 3.4 per cent. per annum in real terms over the next three years. We expect home owners will cover the costs of meeting the standards through the fees they charge. Local authorities are funded to meet these additional costs. Through the agreement between the statutory and independent social care, health care and housing sectors, "Building Capacity and Partnership in Care", issued in October 2001, we made it clear that service commissioners should not set contract prices for care places mechanistically. We expect them to have regard to providers' costs and efficiencies and planned outcomes for service users.

Overseas Visits

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many overseas visits have been undertaken by parliamentary private secretaries in his Department at departmental expense in each of the last four years; and at what cost to public funds.

Hazel Blears: None.

Nurses

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many whole-time equivalent nurses are employed in the NHS on non-clinical duties.

John Hutton: The information requested is not collected centrally.
	The 2001 non-medical workforce census includes 5,485 qualified nurses classified as working as managers and within education services. Their roles may include some clinical duties.
	There are over 30,000 more nurses working in the National Health Service in 2001 than there were in 1997.

Nurses

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) EU trained nurses and (b) those trained elsewhere registered with UKCC in the year to 31 March 1997.

John Hutton: The information requested is in the table.
	
		
			  Year to 31 March 1997 
		
		
			 EC Initial Entrants 1,141 
			 Overseas Initial Entrants 2,633 
			  
			 Total 3,774

Trust Staffing

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many total nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff there were in each trust in each year from 1997 to 2000; and what the whole time equivalent figures were.

John Hutton: The information requested has been placed in the Library. The full census results, and other data from the NHS hospital and community health services non-medical staff in England: 1991–2001 bulletin can also be consulted on-line at  www.doh.gov.uk/public/nhsworkforce.htm.
	Headline figures shown in the table for both headcount, and whole time equivalent. Please note that Headcount Practice Nurse figures are estimated for 1998 and 1999, and that headline figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. Due to rounding totals may not equal the sum of component parts. Figures exclude learners and agency staff.
	
		Headcount
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 Change 1997–2001 (per cent) Change 2000–01 (per cent) 
		
		
			 Nursing, midwifery and health visiting and practice nursing staff total 318,860 323,460 329,640 335,950 350,400 9.9 4.3 
			 Qualified nursing midwifery and health visiting staff 300,470 304,560 310,140 316,750 330,500 9.9 4.3 
			 Practice nurses 18,390 18,890 19,500 19,200 19,800 7.7 3.1 
		
	
	
		Whole-time equivalent
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 Change 1997–2001 (per cent) Change 2000–01 (per cent) 
		
		
			 Nursing, midwifery and health visiting and practice nursing staff total of which 256,090 257,600 261,340 266,990 277,334 8.3 3.9 
			 Qualified nursing midwifery and health visiting staff (HCHS) 246,010 247,240 250,650 256,280 266,171 8.2 3.8 
			 Practice nurses 10,080 10,360 10,690 10,710 11,163 10.7 4.2

Hospices

Richard Page: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 16 January 2002, Official Report, column 380W, on palliative care, if he will estimate the percentage of the additional £50 million to go to the specialist palliative care costs which will be available to the voluntary sector hospices.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 25 February 2002
	The level of funding voluntary hospices receive is a matter for local decision based on a strategic view of local palliative care services. We have required all cancer networks to develop costed strategic investment plans for palliative care, which will inform the wider National Health Service planning process through health improvement programmes and service and financial frameworks for 2002–03. The strategic plans they develop will reflect local population needs and are part of the cancer network service delivery plans. This mechanism will help us address the current inequalities in palliative care service provision across both NHS and voluntary providers.

Hospices

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase hospice funding; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The NHS Cancer Plan set out our commitment to increase National Health Service investment in specialist palliative care (including hospices) by £50 million by 2004. This investment is intended to help tackle inequalities in access to specialist palliative care and enable the NHS to increase their contribution to the cost hospices incur in providing agreed levels of service. We have commissioned NICE to develop evidence-based guidance on palliative care to assist cancer networks, including voluntary hospices, to identify core services.

Residential Care

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total cost of residential care homes in Lancashire was in (a) 1997, (b)  1998, (c)  1999, (d)  2000, (e)  2001 and (f)  today.

Jacqui Smith: The gross expenditure by Lancashire County Council on residential care home placements between 1997–98 and 1999–2000 (the latest year for which data are available) was as follows (figures is £ millions):
	
		
			 Year Lancashire pre 1 April 1998 boundary Lancashire post 1 April 1998 boundary Blackburn with Darwen Blackpool 
		
		
			 1997–98 92.5 — — — 
			 1998–99 101.7 77.6 11.2 12.9 
			 1999–2000 110.2 85.7 10.7 13.7 
		
	
	Source: Form RO3.

Residential Care

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total cost of maintenance of residential care home buildings in Lancashire was in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000, (e) 2001 and (f) today.

Jacqui Smith: Information on the cost of maintaining residential care homes is not held centrally.

Food Poisoning

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases there were of food poisoning in (a) Coventry and (b) the UK in (i) 1998, (ii) 1999, (iii) 2000 and (iv) 2001.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 27 February 2002
	The table sets out the numbers of notified cases of food poisoning for Coventry and the United Kingdom for 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001. The numbers of notified cases of food poisoning are likely to underestimate considerably the actual incidence of food poisoning.
	
		Notified cases of food poisoning for Coventry and UK 1998–2001
		
			 Year Coventry United Kingdom 
		
		
			 1998 464 105,060  
			 1999 434 96,866  
			 2000 322 98,076  
			 2001* 406* 95,807* 
		
	
	*Provisional figures.
	Sources:
	England and Wales—Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS).
	Scotland—the Information and Statistics Division (ISD) and the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health (SCIEH) divisions of the Common Services Agency of the National Health Service in Scotland.
	Northern Ireland—Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety Northern Ireland (DHSSPS).

Food Poisoning

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent research his Department has undertaken into new strains of bacteria that lead to food poisoning.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 27 February 2002
	The Food Standards Agency has a programme of research the objectives of which are to increase the understanding of how an where pathogenic micro-organisms enter the food chain and to assess how specific food handling and production processes affect the survival, growth and toxin formation of micro-organisms in food. Details of recent research are available in the XFood Standards Agency Research Programme Annual Report 2001" and under XScience" on the Food Standards Agency website (www.food.gov.uk). A copy of the latest report has been placed in the Library.

SHA (York)

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultations were undertaken with local authorities before the decision was made for the strategic health authority for North and East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire to be established in York.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 28 February 2002
	A project team, made up of representatives of the local health economy, set up to establish the strategic health authority for North and East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire, commissioned an independent appraisal into the location of the headquarters of the new health authority. No consultations were undertaken with local authorities during the option appraisal process. However, local authorities were informed that the option appraisal recommended that York Science Park was the preferred location. This recommendation is to be discussed at the next meting of the shadow board of the North and East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire strategic health authority on 20 March 2002. here representations from local authorities will be considered.

Parliamentary Questions

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  when he expects to answer Question 15320, tabled on 15 November 2001;
	(2)  when he expects to answer Question 15321, tabled on 15 November 2001;
	(3)  when he expects to answer Question 12771, tabled on 6 November 2001;
	(4)  when he expects to answer Question 12718, tabled on 6 November 2001;
	(5)  when he expects to answer Question 15051, tabled on 15 November 2001;
	(6)  when he expects to answer Question 12715, tabled on 6 November 2001;
	(7)  when he expects to answer Question 16852, tabled on 21 November 2001;
	(8)  when he expects to answer Question 12711, tabled on 6 November 2001;
	(9)  when he expects to answer Question 12778, tabled on 6 November 2001;
	(10)  when he expects to answer Question 15323, tabled on 15 November 2001;

Hazel Blears: I refer the hon. Member to the replies given to him on Monday 25 February 2002, Official Report, columns 935W–36W (Question 15051), columns 965-66W (Question 15321), column 966W (Question 12778), and columns 966–67W (Question 15320). I will let the hon. Member have a reply to Questions 12711, 12715, 12718, 12771, 15323 and 16852 as soon as possible.

NHS Charges

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase (a) charges in the NHS and (b) the value of optical vouchers; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: We shall lay before the House regulations to increase National Health Services charges in England from 1 April 2002. There will be a cash increase in the charge of 10p, (1.64 per cent.) from £6.10 to £6.20 for each quantity of a drug or appliance dispensed.
	The cost of prescription prepayment certificates will rise to £32.40 for a 4 month certificate and £89.00 for an annual certificate. These offer savings for those needing more than 5 items in four months or 14 in one year.
	Prescription charges are expected to raise some £434 million for the NHS in 2002-2003.
	Charges for elastic stockings and tights, wigs and most fabric supports supplied through the Hospital Service will be increased similarly.
	The maximum patient charge for a single course of dental treatment begun on or after 1 April 2002 will increase from £360 to £366.
	We have restricted the prescription charge increase to the same cash amount as the previous three years and the other increases are in line with this percentage increase.
	Optical voucher values will increase overall by 1.95 per cent. to help children, people on low income and certain people with complex sight problems with the cost of spectacles or contact lenses.
	NHS Charges and optical voucher values in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are a matter for the Devolved Administrations.
	Details of the revised charges and optical voucher values have been placed in the Library.

Drug Misuse

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deaths are attributable to drug misuse in each of the last five years.

Ruth Kelly: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from John Kidgel to Mr. Kelvin Hopkins, dated 28 February 2002
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your question concerning how many deaths were attributable to drug misuse in each of the last five years. I am replying in his absence.(38651)
	The figures requested are given in the table below:
	
		Drug misuse-related1 deaths, England and Wales, 1996–20002
		
			 Calendar year Number of deaths 
		
		
			 1996 1,247 
			 1997 1,302 
			 1998 1,459 
			 1999 1,568 
			 2000 1,662 
		
	
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics, Report. Deaths related to drug poisoning: results for England and Wales, 1993 to 2000. Health Statistics Quarterly 13 (2002), 76–82.
	Notes:
	1 Defined as deaths where the underlying cause is poisoning, drug abuse or drug dependence and where any of the substances controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act (1971) are involved.
	2 Data are for occurrences of death per calendar year.

Life Expectancy, St Helens

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the most recent figures are for life expectancy at birth for (a) males and (b) females in St Helens South.

Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Shaun Woodward dated 1 March 2002
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question asking what are the most recent figures for life expectancy at birth or (a) males and (b) females in St Helens South. (38267)
	Figures for life expectancy at birth in parliamentary constituencies are not routinely produced and data are not available to readily allow their calculation.
	Figures for life expectancy at birth in the local authority of St Helens, which comprises the parliamentary constituencies of St Helens North and St Helens, South, are as follows:
	1998 to 2000 - aggregated years
	Males - 73.7 years
	Females - 79.0 years.

Benefit Reviews

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Department has made an assessment of the suitability of EMPS carrying out examinations in respect of benefit reviews.

Nick Brown: I have been asked to reply.
	All doctors carrying out examinations in respect of benefit claims or reviews must be approved by the Department's Chief Medical Adviser. There are stringent recruitment criteria and in order to gain approval doctors must complete prescribed training and demonstrate a satisfactory level of competence in carrying out assessments. The quality standards of all doctors are regularly monitored by SchlumbergerSema Medical Services. Ongoing approval is subject to satisfactory performance.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Policies (Bristol, East)

Jean Corston: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Bristol, East constituency, the effects on Bristol of her Department's policies and actions (a) from 5 May 1994 to 2 May 1997, (b) from 2 May 1997 to 7 May 1998, and (c) since 7 May 1998.

Richard Caborn: (a) 5 May 1994 to 2 May 1997 There were 31 national lottery awards to Bristol East totalling £2,068,137. (b) 2 May 1997 to 7 May 1998 There were 39 national lottery awards to Bristol East totalling £1,748,764. (c) Since 7 May 1998 Forty Four Millennium Award Winners have been identified from Bristol East at a grant commitment of £129,557. 7 May 1998 to 13 February 2002 There were 105 national lottery awards to Bristol East totalling £5,611,239. Information on the National Lottery is in accordance with the information supplied to the Department by the Lottery Distributors for the National Lottery Awards Database. There are of course other initiatives in the wider context of the region which may have an effect on the Bristol East constituency. These are:
	(a) 5 May 1994 to 2 May 1997
	English Heritage
	5 grants offered for repairs to Grade I and II* listed buildings totalling £124,314
	1 grant offered for repairs to a scheduled ancient monument of £81,080
	3 grants offered for repairs to Grade II listed buildings in a conservation area totalling £98,723
	2 grants offered to Conservation Area Partnership (CAP) Schemes totalling £100,000
	(b) 2 May 1997 to 7 May 1998
	English Heritage
	3 grants offered for repairs to Grade I and II* listed buildings totalling £121,130 1 CAP scheme grant offer of £50,000
	(c) Since 7 May 1998
	English Heritage
	4 grants offered for repairs to Grade I and II* listed buildings totalling £460,700
	1 Heritage Economic Regeneration Scheme grant offer of £70,000
	Designated Museums Challenge Fund (DMCF)
	Bristol Museum and Art Gallery received the following:
	
		
			 Award Claimed 
		
		
			 Year 1 (1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000) £59,475 £59,475 
			 Year 2 (1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001) £80,000 £73,639.45 
			 Year 3 (1 April 2001 to 2002) £120,100 still in progress 
		
	
	The awards were made towards improvements to care, interpretation and access for all designated collections.
	DCMS Wolfson Public Libraries Challenge Fund
	Since May 1998 DCMS Wolfson Public Libraries Challenge Fund has granted £24,000 towards a British History Project (covering all of Bristol libraries).
	Space for Sport and the Arts
	Bristol has provisionally been allocated with £1.75 million under the Space for Sport and Arts programme. Subject to the approval of detailed applications, the area will benefit from new/modernised sport and arts facilities based in four primary schools, but open for use by the wider community outside school hours. Building work on the four projects should be completed by Summer 2003.
	Creative Partnerships
	Bristol has been chosen as one of the first pilots for the Creative Partnerships programme, due to start in April 2002.
	Artsmark Schools
	There is currently only one Artsmark school in the City of Bristol. Seven have applied for Artsmark status in this year's round of applications.
	National Foundation for Youth Music
	Bristol is part of a Youth Music Action Zone also encompassing Gloucester. Since its inception the zone has received £512,176. The National Foundation for Youth Music has also made separate grants to projects in Bristol totalling £149,284.
	Libraries
	Bristol library service has been awarded grants of £598,587 for People's Network ICT infrastructure and £121,040 for librarian ICT training by the New Opportunities Fund (NOF). According to Resource, the body responsible for monitoring implementation of the People's Network, all 26 public libraries in Bristol are now connected to the Internet through the People's Network and all offer free internet access to users.
	Sport
	There are 2 School Sport Co-ordinators in Bristol at Ashton Park School and Portway Community School which have received £315,537 and £289,239 respectively.
	Free Television Licences
	Information on the number of beneficiaries of free television licences by constituency is not available, but estimates based on the 1991 Census indicate that there were approximately 7,600 people aged 75 or over living in the Bristol East constituency.

Contracts

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many contracts in each financial year since 1995–96 (a) Cap Gemini Ernst and Young, (b) PricewaterhouseCoopers, (c) KPMG, (d) PA Consulting, (e) WS Atkins, (f) Accenture, (g) Deloitte and Touche, (h) McKinsey, (i) Capita, (j) AEA Technology, (k) Xansa Group, (l) Sema Group, (m) CMG Admiral, (n) ICL Group and (o) Logica were awarded for advising her Department; what fees each firm earned in each year from work for her Department; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: Contracts awarded to the named companies were as follows:
	
		
			 Company 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 
		
		
			 CAP Gemini Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil 
			 PWC Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil 83,000 (2) 96,000 (1) 
			 KPMG 32,000 (2) Nil Nil 23,000 (1) Nil Nil Nil 
			 PA Consulting Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil 
			 WS Atkins Nil Nil Nil 55,000 (3) 33,000 (2) Nil Nil 
			 Accentor Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil 
			 Deloitte & Touche Nil 109,000 (2) Nil 207,000 (1) Nil Nil Nil 
			 McKinsey Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil 
			 Capita Nil Nil Nil 39,000 (3) Nil Nil 26,0002 
			 AEA Technology Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil 23,000 (1) Nil 
			 Ansa Group Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil 
			 Sea Group1 
			 C.G. Admiral Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil 
			 NAL Group Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil 
			 Logic Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil 
		
	
	Notes:
	1 SchlumbergerSema have been the Department's outsourced IT service provider since 1993. It is not possible to provide a breakdown of fees annually from 1995–96 but the payment to SchlumbergerSema for direct services was of the order of £1.5 million in 2000–01 and will be a similar figure in 2001–02. Expenditure in previous years will not have exceeded that amount.
	2 Recruitment advisory services using central government's framework contract.
	Includes Royal Parks Agency.
	Number of contracts in brackets.

National Lottery

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what the role and function of Global Crossing is with regard to (a) Camelot and (b) the running of the National Lottery;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the implications of the collapse of (a) Global Crossing and (b) its subcontractors upon the National Lottery;
	(3)  what steps her Department has taken to ensure that the possible collapse of Global Crossing has no impact on the running of the National Lottery;
	(4)  what representations she has received from Camelot about the possible collapse of Global Crossing.

Richard Caborn: The operation of the National Lottery is a matter for Camelot as the private operator and the National Lottery Commission as the independent regulator. We have received no representations from Camelot about the future of Global Crossing (UK) Telecommunications Ltd. which is a key supplier of communication networks for the National Lottery. Camelot has been in detailed discussions with Global Crossing (UK) Telecommunications Ltd. to assess the level of risk to the National Lottery and set in place contingency arrangements, and has kept the National Lottery Commission informed.

National Lottery

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what meetings have been held between Ministers and special advisers and (a) Camelot, (b) Global Crossing and (c) other companies with regard to the possible collapse of Global Crossing;
	(2)  on what date discussions between her Department and Global Crossing have been held since 1999; and what has been discussed on each occasion;
	(3)  what meetings have been held between (a) Minister and (b) special advisers and Global Crossing since May 1997.

Richard Caborn: We have held no meetings with Global Crossing since May 1997.

Capita

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many contracts the Department has with Capita; and how much they are worth.

Kim Howells: My Department has no standing contract with Capita. However, we have used their services recently on three separate occasions. Brief details and the costs involved are as shown:
	(i) providing training, candidate assessment exercises and independent chairs for the interview panel in connection with the Department's open recruitment scheme for middle and senior managers (November 2001)—£17k
	(ii) providing and marking standard Civil Service written tests for short-listed candidates in connection with the Department's open recruitment scheme or administrative staff (February 2002)—£1k
	(iii) providing 7 successful candidates off the national Civil Service Junior Manager recruitment scheme run by Capita (November 2001–February 2002)—£8k.

Regional Museums

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what action she is taking in response to the findings of the Regional Museums Task Force.

Kim Howells: My Department has accepted, in principle, the task force's key recommendations for a new framework for regional museums. We are currently working with Resource to start implementing the recommendations with £10 million per annum which was allocated to Resource in the last spending review.
	We will take the task force's recommendations into account in the current spending review, alongside other priorities.

J Samuel White's Yard

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the hammerhead crane at the former J Samuel White's Yard in Cowes.

Kim Howells: I can confirm that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State considers all applications for statutory listing on their individual merits. DCMS officials will write to the hon. Member outlining the listing procedures in greater detail.

Tourism

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she has assessed the effect of the proposed six-term school year on the domestic tourism industry.

Kim Howells: The traditional calendar for the school year is increasingly seen as a barrier to the development of more sustainable tourism and to the spreading of the benefits of domestic tourism more evenly throughout the year.
	Research has shown that while the total amount of UK trips made by the family tourism market is unlikely to change significantly as a result of a six-term year, an extended and more constant tourism season would be one result. This would lighten the load on tourism hotspots that struggle to cope with the huge numbers at peak times and mean that more attractions and tourism businesses, which currently close at the end of the summer, would be encouraged to stay open for longer.

Tourism

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many tourist visitors there were to each (a) region and (b) country of the UK for each year since 1995.

Kim Howells: holding answer 28 February 2002
	Numbers of tourist visits involving an overnight stay by both overseas and UK residents to each region/country of the UK for 2000 are shown in table 1.
	Numbers of tourist visits by overseas residents for 1995–2000 are shown in table 2.
	Information on domestic visits for 1995–99 was published by the National Tourist Boards in The Uk Tourist and may be obtained from the Library of the House. However these figures for 1995–99 are not comparable with data for 2000 in table 1.
	Figures for 2001 are not yet available at sub-UK level.
	
		Table 1—Tourism visits in the UK in 2000
		
			 Tourist board region/ Country Millions of staying visits Overseas residents' visitsVisits by UK residentsTotal 
		
		
			 London 13.1 18.5 31.6 
			 Northumbria 0.4 5.6 6.0 
			 Cumbria 0.2 5.0 5.2 
			 North West 1.3 14.8 16.1 
			 Yorkshire 0.9 13.1 14.0 
			 Heart of England 2.3 23.4 25.7 
			 East of England 1.8 13.2 15.0 
			 West Country 1.6 18.6 20.2 
			 Southern 2.1 14.7 16.8 
			 South East England 2.1 12.1 14.2 
			 All England1 21.5 140.4 161.9 
			 Wales 1.0 10.9 11.9 
			 Scotland 1.7 19.7 21.4 
			 Northern Ireland 0.3 n/a2 n/a2 
			 UK 23.2 175.4 198.6 
		
	
	Sources:
	International Passenger Survey and UK Tourism Survey.
	1 Figures do not sum due to trips that included visits to more than one region/country.
	2 Comparable data not available.
	
		Table 2—Visits to the Uk by Overseas' residents
		
			 Tourist board region/Country Millions of staying visits 199519961997199819992000 
		
		
			 London 11.9 12.3 12.3 12.3 13.3 13.1 
			 Northumbria 0.5 0.4 0.5 0.4 0.5 0.4 
			 Cumbria 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2 
			 North West 1.1 1.2 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.3 
			 Yorkshire 1.0 1.0 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9 
			 East Midlands3 0.7 0.7 — — — — 
			 Heart of England (old boundary) 1.4 1.4 — — — — 
			 Heart of England — — 2.0 2.0 2.1 2.3 
			 East Anglia3 1.4 1.4 — — — — 
			 East of England — — 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 
			 West Country 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.6 
			 Southern 1.9 1.9 1.9 2.0 2.1 2.1 
			 South East England 2.1 2.3 2.2 2.3 2.3 2.1 
			 All England1 18.7 19.5 19.6 19.9 21.4 21.5 
			 Wales 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.7 0.8 1.0 
			 Scotland 1.8 1.8 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.7 
			 Northern Ireland n/a2 n/a2 n/a2 n/a2 n/a2 0.3 
			 UK1 19.7 20.9 21.0 21.4 23.3 23.2 
		
	
	Source:
	International Passenger Survey, Office for National Statistics.
	1 Figures do not sum due to trips that included visits to more than one region/country.
	2 Comparable data not available.
	3 These regional tourist board areas ceased to exist following the reorganisation in 1996.

Tourism

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total revenue was from tourists in 2000 broken down by (a) region and (b) country.

Kim Howells: holding answer 28 February 2002
	Tourism revenue comprises expenditure by:
	1. Overseas residents during visits to the United Kingdom.
	2. UK residents on domestic trips with overnight stays.
	3. UK residents in days trips outside of each individuals' usual environment, and
	4. Expenditure by overseas visitors which relates to their trip, but which is made abroad and is transferred to UK companies, i.e. fares to UK air carriers.
	(a) Revenue from tourist expenditure for 2000 is shown for regions and countries of the UK in the table. Regional data are not available for categories 3 and 4.
	
		Tourism spending in the UK in 2000 -- £ million
		
			 Tourist board region/Country Overseas visitors Domestic trips with overnight Domestic tourism leisure day trips3 Fares to UK air carriers3 Total 
		
		
			 London 6,900 3,070 n/a n/a 9,970 
			 Northumbria 170 740 n/a n/a 910 
			 Cumbria 50 770 n/a n/a 820 
			 North West 450 1,980 n/a n/a 2,420 
			 Yorkshire 260 1,690 n/a n/a 1,950 
			 Heart of England 770 2,790 n/a n/a 3,560 
			 East of England 680 1,540 n/a n/a 2,220 
			 West Country 550 3,120 n/a n/a 3,680 
			 Southern 780 2,050 n/a n/a 2,830 
			 South East England 700 1,490 n/a n/a 2,200 
			 All England1 11,360 19,890 n/a n/a 31,250 
			 Wales 270 1,140 n/a n/a 1,400 
			 Scotland 790 3,700 n/a n/a 4,490 
			 Northern Ireland 110 n/a2 n/a n/a n/a2 
			 UK1 12,670 26,130 32,700 3,300 74,800 
		
	
	Sources:
	International Passenger Survey and UK Tourism Survey.
	1 Figures may not sum due to spending not attributable to regions/countries.
	2 Comparable data not available.
	3 Estimated figures.
	(b) Data at county level for categories 1 and 2 can be found on the Tourism Boards' statistics website http://www.staruk.org.uk.

Bishopsgate Goods Yard

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she will announce her decision on whether to list Bishopsgate Goods Yard.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will announce in due course her decision of whether Bishopsgate Goods Yard meets the criteria for inclusion on the list of buildings of special architectural or historic interest.

Bishopsgate Goods Yard

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent communication she has had with English Heritage concerning the possible listing of Bishopsgate Goods Yard.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State asked English Heritage to provide advice on whether Bishopsgate Goods Yard meets the criteria for inclusion on the list of buildings of special architectural or historic interest. She has received their advice and will announce her decision in due course.

Bishopsgate Goods Yard

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent instructions she has given to English Heritage about the listing of Bishopsgate Goods Yard.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has given no instructions to English Heritage. She has received advice from English Heritage on whether Bishopsgate Goods Yard meet the criteria for inclusion on the list of buildings of special architectural or historic interest.

Listed Buildings

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport at what point a decision to list a building becomes effective.

Kim Howells: A decision becomes effective at the point an amendment is made to the list; the list is a publicly accessible document.

New Wembley Stadium

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many (a) football matches, (b) rugby league matches and (c ) other sports events she estimates will be played each year if the new Wembley Stadium is built.

Richard Caborn: The long-term events profile for the proposed National Stadium at Wembley is a matter for the FA and Wembley National Stadium Limited (WNSL). WNSL have indicated that in 2006 a new Wembley Stadium would host a total of 20 football and rugby league matches.

Non-Governmental Organisations

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list non-Governmental organisations operating in the South West Region that receive public funds from her Department; and what amount of annual funding they received in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Richard Caborn: Non-governmental organisations operating in the South West Region do not receive public funds directly from my Department.

Sports Tests

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the answer of 23 October 2001, Official Report, column 184W, whether the research by Professor Peter Sonkson at St. Thomas' Hospital has been continued in the UK since his retirement.

Richard Caborn: Research into the use of Human Growth Hormone (hGH) is continuing in the UK. However, the main sources of funding for this work, the International Olympic Committee and the European Commission, have not extended their financial investment beyond the initial funding agreed for this research.
	Worldwide, research teams continue work in this field with grants awarded by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). At present WADA is committing US$5 million per year to research in five priority areas which include compounds that aid the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, such as Erythropoietin (EPO), the factors that regulate and increase growth, such as human growth hormone hGH.

Drug Taking

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was spent on research into drug taking in sport in each of the last 10 years; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: UK Sport does not assign a specific budget for research activities into drug taking in the UK and therefore an exact amount is not identifiable. UK Sport's funding for the UK's anti-doping programme has been focused on delivering appropriate testing programmes for sport. However, UK Sport have provided funding for key projects, such as the Nandrolone review that was undertaken in 2000 and the development of the international working group on human growth hormone (hGH).
	Independent research projects are also funded by other organisations in the UK and abroad. Examples include a programme of research on Nandrolone commissioned by UK Athletics, which was undertaken by Aberdeen University in 2000. The International Olympic Committee has also funded research at the Cologne Laboratory into Nandrolone.
	The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is committed to increasing the volume of research dedicated to developing new and improved detection methods for the growing list of performance enhancing substances and methods. WADA currently provides US$5 million per year to further this research in five priority areas:
	Compounds that aid oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, such as EPO;
	Endogenous anabolic agents, such as testosterone;
	Factors that regulate and increase growth, such as hGH;
	Gene technology and performance enhancement; and
	Other prohibited substances and methods.

Tennis (Drug Tests)

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many drug tests were conducted by (a) UK Sport and (b) another agency responsible to her during (i) all tennis tournaments with professional players in the United Kingdom and (ii) during the Wimbledon tennis tournament.

Richard Caborn: UK Sport is the only Government agency funded to undertake anti-doping work in the UK. Since 1 April 2001 UK Sport has conducted testing at six events at which professional tennis players were present. A total of 65 tests have been collected as part of the Lawn Tennis Association's Anti-Doping Programme.
	Testing at Wimbledon tournament is not undertaken by UK Sport, this is done by the International Tennis Federation (ITF). In 2001 the ITF conducted 120 tests during the Wimbledon tournament and 56 in other tennis tournaments in the UK. The testing programme is independently administered and all analysis of samples is carried out at IOC accredited laboratories.

Lottery Funding

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what obligations are placed on athletes receiving lottery funding to (a) coach, (b) visit schools and (c) promote participation amongst the wider public.

Richard Caborn: The Sports Councils do not place any obligations on athletes when receiving lottery funding to coach, visit schools or promote participation amongst the wider public.

Broadcast Licences

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what licences and other permissions are required by broadcasters before they can transmit their channel via (a) digital satellite, (b) digital terrestrial and (c) digital cable.

Kim Howells: The Independent Television Commission is responsible for licensing commercial digital television services in the UK. Broadcasters will need a Satellite Television Service Licence for transmission via (a) digital satellite; a Digital Programme Service Licence for (b) digital terrestrial television; and a Digital Programme Service Licence for (c) digital cable television.

Free-to-air Channels

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make an assessment of the costs to consumers of receiving only free-to-air television channels via (a) digital satellite television, (b) digital terrestrial television and (c) digital cable television.

Kim Howells: To receive only the free-to-view television channels via (a) digital satellite television, consumers will need to pay for either a digital set top box and satellite dish and for the cost of installation, or for an integrated television set (idTV) that can be connected to a satellite dish; (b) digital terrestrial television, consumers will need to pay for either a digital set top box and possibly a new aerial, or an idTV that can be connected to an aerial and; (c) digital cable television, consumers can receive free-to-view digital services only by subscribing to a package of services. The Digital Television Action Plan includes a specific action to conduct a comprehensive review of progress towards digital switchover, with particular reference to the accessibility, availability and affordability tests announced in September 1999. The review will refine the tests and report on how progress towards meeting them is to be measured. A first report is due by the end of March 2002.

Capita Group

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the contracts that have been awarded to the Capita Group by the Department.

Kim Howells: The following is the information:
	
		Capita
		
			   £ 
		
		
			 1998–99 Recruitment of Chairman and Members—New Opportunities Fund 14,000 
			 1998–99 Recruitment of Chairman and Trustees—National Endowment for Science & Technology (NESTA) 13,000 
			 1998–99 Recruitment for BBC Appointments 12,000 
			 2001–02 Training for Recruitment Scheme—Middle and Senior Managers 17,000 
			 2001–02 Providing and Marking Standard Civil Service Written Tests 1,000 
			 2001–02 Civil Service Junior Manager Recruitment Scheme 8,000 
			 Total  65,000 
		
	
	Includes Royal Parks (nil return).

Fair Trade

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether fair trade products are sold in her Department.

Kim Howells: There is little opportunity to sell anything in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, but contractors working with the Department are encouraged to use Fair Trade goods where possible.

Film Industry

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what income has been generated from the film industry in each (a) region and (b) country in the United Kingdom in each year since 1995.

Kim Howells: holding answer 28 February 2002
	The following table shows film production investment to the UK from 1995–2000. Figures are not kept by region or country. Information for 2001 is not yet available.
	
		Production inward investment to the UK, 1995—2000
		
			 Year Foreign productions £ million British productions £ million Total inward investment 
		
		
			 1995 14 216.45 34 94.00 310.45 
			 1996 25 387.10 73 172.20 559.30 
			 1997 20 261.90 84 202.89 464.79 
			 1998 16 214.20 67 174.96 389.16 
			 1999 22 336.37 70 170.31 506.68 
			 2000 28 366.57 52 211.70 578.27

Theatres

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding has been made available (a) from her Department and (b) from the National Lottery for assisting in renovation work to theatres in (i) 1999, (ii) 2000 and (iii) 2001.

Kim Howells: holding answer 28 February 2002
	This is a matter for those bodies sponsored by my Department who deal specifically with theatre and/or the built environment—the Arts Council of England, English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund.
	The following figures supplied by these organisations are for lottery awards for theatre renovation:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1999 13,674,605 
			 2000 4,278,566 
			 2001 23,380,917

Sport England

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will provide an additional £500,000 to Sport England to compensate it for the severance package given to Sport England's former chief executive.

Tessa Jowell: Sport England recognise that the costs of the departure of their former Chief Executive must be funded from existing resources. There will not be any charge to Lottery Funds.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Retirement Ages

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the retirement ages that apply to the employees of his Department and its agencies, including how many and which categories of employees are affected by each; and if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on flexible retirement.

Ben Bradshaw: The FCO's current retirement age is 60 for all grades of staff. From April this year staff in clerical grades will be able to work until 65 and those in junior and middle management grades until 63 if they so wish. Staff in the Senior Management Structure will be required to retire at 60 as at present. There are currently 1,441 staff in the clerical grades, 3,716 in junior and middle management and 454 in the Senior Management Structure.

Ministerial Boxes

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by what means ministerial boxes are conveyed from private offices in his Department to (a) himself and (b) his fellow Ministers; how frequently and at what expense private courier firms are employed for such a task; and which courier firms have been used for such duties.

Jack Straw: FCO ministerial boxes are transported to Ministers' homes by Government car or by a service provided by the Royal Mail.

Racism

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer on 23 January 2002, Official Report, column 886W, on the UN World Conference against Racism, what the results of his consultation on drawing up a National Action Plan on 4 February were; what bodies were represented at the meeting; if he will place the notes of the meeting in the Library; what arrangements have been made for a follow-up meeting; what plans he has to make the WCAR report available to hon. Members; and what plans he has to debate the report and publicise UK support for the Declaration.

Denis MacShane: On 4 February, the Home Office held informal consultations with NGOs who had been involved in national consultations on the World Conference Against Racism, including the 1990 Trust, the Runnymede Trust, the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities, UNA-UK, the Churches Commission for Racial Justice and the Women's National Commission and representatives from the devolved administrations.
	The purpose of the meeting was for Home Office officials to seek views on how work on the National Action Plan should be taken forward before putting advice to Ministers. The meeting's main concern was to ensure that a fully representative group of NGOs were consulted on the development and implementation of the plan and discussion focused around which organisations should be included. The Home Office is currently considering these proposals. As this meeting was informal, there are no plans to put a record in the Library of the House. There will be a further meeting of the informal group on 19 March.
	The UK World Conference Against Racism report is available to hon. Members on the UN website (http://www.un.org/WCAR/aconf189–12pdf) which is accessible through the House Library.
	We will of course inform hon. Members as soon as we have identified and agreed the best way to take forward work on the National Act Plan.

Afghanistan

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the UN Economic and Social council report XDiscrimination against Women and Girls in Afghanistan"; and if he will adopt its recommendations in respect of UK operations in Afghanistan.

Ben Bradshaw: We welcome the report XDiscrimination against Women and Girls in Afghanistan" and support its recommendations. We have always said that the restoration of human rights, including women's rights, will be the key to the establishment of stable systems of government in Afghanistan. We expect the Afghan Government to ratify the convention on the elimination of discrimination against women.
	We welcome the role that women are playing in the Afghan Interim Authority, both in the Interim Administration and on the Loya Jirga Commission. Whilst the form of any future Afghan Government is for the Afghan people to decide, we expect that women will be involved.
	On reconstruction, our projects have always involved women and this will continue in the recovery and rehabilitation process. The involvement of women in projects, and use of expertise on gender issues will help to ensure that the rights of women are promoted—particularly recognising the complexity of gender issues in Afghanistan.

Overseas Territories

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place the final draft of the overseas territories model legislation for implementation of the report to the Counter Terrorism Committee, pursuant to paragraph 6 of Security Council Resolution 1373 (2001) of 28 September 2001 and 20 December 2001, in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Copies of the final draft of the Order In Council which will replicate in several Overseas Territories the terrorist financing provisions of the Terrorism Act 2000 and the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 will be placed in the Library as soon as they are available.

Overseas Territories

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress (a) the Cayman Islands, (b) Bermuda and (c) Gibraltar have made in bringing forward legislation to implement the report to the Counter Terrorism Committee, pursuant to paragraph 6 of Security Council Resolution 1373 (2001) of 28 September 2001 and 20 December 2001.

Ben Bradshaw: Bermuda, Gibraltar and the Cayman Islands have agreed to enact local legislation equivalent to the terrorist financing provisions of the Terrorism Act 2000 and the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001. The United Kingdom is producing model draft legislation, which we hope the legislature in each territory will be able to approve by June 2002.

Overseas Territories

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what work is in progress on the designation of exclusive economic zones in respect of (a) the Falkland Islands, (b) St. Georgia, (c) St Helena and (d) Ascension Island; what deadline is for designation under Article 76 of the UN Law of the Sea Convention 1984; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS) coastal states may declare an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) beyond and adjacent to their territorial sea up to 200 nautical miles from their baselines. Coastal states may declare instead an equivalent zone and exercise more limited jurisdiction in that zone. The Falkland Islands and St. Helena and Dependencies (which include Ascension Island) have declared a 200 nautical mile fisheries zone. South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands have declared a 200 nautical mile maritime zone.
	Under Article 76 of UNCLOS coastal states claiming a continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles are required to make a submission to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS). In respect of the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Ascension Island and St. Helena any submission should be made as soon as possible, but in any event by 13 May 2009.
	The preparatory work to make submissions to the CLCS in respect of the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, and Ascension Island is under way and it is expected that the submissions will be made before the deadline.
	No work is being undertaken to make a submission to the CLCS under Article 76 of UNCLOS in respect of St. Helena because the geomorphology of the seabed around the island does not support a claim to a continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles.

Pakistan

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with (a) Pakistan and (b) United States authorities regarding Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Officials at our High Commission in Islamabad have been in touch with the Pakistani authorities on consular aspects of Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh's detention. They are also in regular contact with officials at the US Embassy in Islamabad and our embassy in Washington has been in contact with the US State Department.

Western Sahara

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans Ministers from his Department have to visit (a) Morocco and (b) Western Sahara.

Ben Bradshaw: FCO Ministers have no current plans to visit either Morocco or Western Sahara. I visited Morocco in September 2001.

Western Sahara

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions the Government have had with the Spanish Government regarding the Western Sahara dispute.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government have no formal contact with the Spanish Government regarding the Western Sahara dispute.

Western Sahara

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions the Government have had with the Government of Morocco regarding the status of the Western Sahara.

Ben Bradshaw: We regularly discuss the issue of the Western Sahara with the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco. I raised the issue during my visit to Morocco in September 2001 and my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed the subject with Mohammed Benaissa the Moroccan Foreign Minister during his visit to London on 21 February 2002.

Western Sahara

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contact the Government have had with the personal envoy of the UN Secretary-General with regard to his efforts to find a solution to the Western Sahara dispute.

Ben Bradshaw: We continue to support the efforts of James Baker, the Personal Envoy of the United Nations Secretary General in trying to find a just and durable resolution to the Western Sahara dispute. UK Officials in New York are in regular contact with James Baker, most recently on 27 February when he addressed an informal group of United Nations Security Council members on his report on the situation in Western Sahara.

Western Sahara

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what efforts the British Government are engaged in to encourage the Moroccan Government and the Polisario Front to reach an agreement in the Western Sahara dispute.

Ben Bradshaw: Foreign Office Ministers and officials in London and New York have regular contact with their counterparts from other nations and the parties to this dispute to attempt to reach an agreement.
	We continue to support the efforts of James Baker, the Personal Envoy of the United Nations Secretary General, in trying to find a mutually acceptable, just and durable resolution to the dispute. We encourage all parties to do the same.

European Union

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his Department will publish a report, specifying and quantifying the costs and benefits arising from the United Kingdom's membership of the European Union, together with a description of the methodology employed in the analysis; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has no plans to publish such a report.

Romania

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the arrangements were finalised for the Romanian Government's visit to Britain in November 2001.

Peter Hain: holding answer 28 February 2002
	Most arrangements for the visit had been finalised by 2 November 2001.

Laeken declaration

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give his understanding of the definition of the phrase the unification of Europe used in section 1 of the Laeken declaration.

Peter Hain: As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister stated in his speech at the Warsaw Stock Exchange in October 2000, the Government see Europe as
	Xfree, independent sovereign nations who choose to pool that sovereignty in pursuit of their own interests and the common good, achieving more together than we can achieve alone."

WORK AND PENSIONS

Maternity Rights

Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what the weekly rate is of maternity allowance offered to women who are self-employed in small businesses;
	(2)  how many self-employed women have taken up full maternity leave and allowances in the last year and in the previous two years.

Malcolm Wicks: We are improving maternity benefits as part of our drive to help women achieve a better balance between paid work and family life. In August 2000 we abolished the separate lower rate of Maternity Allowance paid to the self-employed. They now receive the same standard rate of Maternity Allowance as employees, which is £62.20 for up to 18 weeks, provided they pay Class 2 National Insurance contributions. At the same time we also extended Maternity Allowance to self-employed women who do not pay Class 2 National Insurance contributions provided they hold a certificate of Small Earnings Exception. These women receive £27 a week for up to 18 weeks. Maternity Leave is available only to employees not the self-employed.
	The standard rate of Maternity Allowance will be raised to £75 a week from April 2002. In 2003 the rate will be £100 a week and the payment period will be extended from 18 to 26 weeks.
	The information available on the number of self-employed women who have received Maternity Allowance since the improvements in August 2000 is in Table 1.
	
		Table 1 -- Maternity Allowance awards to women shown as self-employed.
		
			  Self-employed 
		
		
			 1 September 2000 to 31 August 2001 9,400 
		
	
	Source:
	5 per cent. scan of the computer system. Excludes late notifications to the system, and a small number of cases held clerically.
	Notes:
	1. Figure includes a small number of cases where the woman has a combination of self-employment and employment during the qualifying period.
	2. Figure is rounded to the nearest hundred.
	Information was collected on a different basis prior to the improvements made to Maternity Allowance in August 2000. The information available for the previous two years is in Table 2.
	
		Table 2 -- Maternity Allowance awards where Xself-employed" was shown as the reason for non payment of Statutory Maternity Pay.
		
			  Self-employed 
		
		
			 5 April 1999 to 1 April 2000 8,000 
			 6 April 1998 to 3 April 1999 9,000 
		
	
	Source:
	Figures are from a 1 per cent. sample of claims to Maternity Allowance, and subject to a degree of sampling error.
	Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand or per cent.

Employment Initiatives (Cynon Valley)

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans there are to extend employment zones, action teams for jobs and JobCentre Plus to the Cynon Valley.

Nick Brown: An extension of the Action Team for Jobs initiative was announced in the 2001 Budget. This included a new Action Team in Rhondda-Cynon-Taff county borough, which started on 15 October 2001. The team works in the three most employment-deprived wards in the Cynon Valley constituency; Aberaman South, Mountain Ash West and Pen-y-waun.
	There are no plans at present to extend Employment Zones to Cynon Valley. We are currently fully evaluating the Zones before deciding how to take the initiative further. The full range of JobCentre help is available to the long-term unemployed in Cynon Valley. This includes new deal 25 Plus, which was extended and enhanced last April to help more long-term unemployed people get jobs and remain in them.
	JobCentre Plus is currently being delivered successfully in 56 pathfinder offices. The work-focused interview process is also operating in 39 further sites, including the Aberdare district office. JobCentre Plus will come into existence as a national organisation at the beginning of April 2002.

Benefit and Pension Payments

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much money has been saved by the social security budget in each of the last four years by the withholding of benefits for those who have been in hospital.

Ian McCartney: holding answer 15 January 2002
	The information requested is in the tables:
	
		Total reduction in Benefits due to 6–52 weeks Hospital Downrating
		
			 Benefit £ millions 1997–981998–991999–20002000–01 
		
		
			 Incapacity Benefit 5* 5* 6* 5* 
			 Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA) 3 3 3 4 
			 Retirement Pension 22 24 26 28 
		
	
	Total reduction in Benefits due to 52 week Hospital Downrating
	
		
			 Benefit £ millions1997–981998–991999–20002000–01 
		
		
			 Incapacity Benefit 8* 8* 8* 9* 
			 SDA 24 23 23 21 
			 Retirement Pension 33 32 30 29 
		
	
	Total reduction in Benefits due to withdrawal after 4 weeks
	
		
			 Benefit £ millions1997–981998–991999–20002000–01 
		
		
			 Attendance Allowance 46 63 76 80 
			 Disability Living Allowance 18 23 27 32 
			 Invalid Care Allowance 3 3 3 3 
		
	
	1. The information has been obtained from a number of administrative sources and a number of assumptions have been made, i.e. numbers marked * are taken from a small number of sample cases and are subject to a relatively high sampling error and should only be used as an indication of the current situation and it has been assumed that figures in a given quarter remain constant throughout the year.
	2. Figures are rounded to the nearest million.
	3. It is not possible to provide accurate total reductions for Income Support, Housing Benefit, or Council Tax Benefit.
	4. The figures are given in cash terms.

Disability Benefit Statistics

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many young people aged 0 to 16 live in households in which an adult is in receipt of (a) incapacity benefit and (b) disability living allowance; and what percentage of these households have an income of less than 60 per cent. of the median household income.

Nick Brown: Such information as is available is presented in the table:
	
		Number of young people aged 16 or under living in households where an adult is in receipt of certain disability benefits, and percentage of these individuals living in households with below 60 per cent. of median income
		
			  Percentage of young people aged 16 or under living with adults in receipt of benefits listed who are also in households with below 60 per cent. of median income Total number of young people aged under 16 living with adults in receipt of benefits listed 
		
		
			 Adult in Household in receipt of: Before Housing Costs After Housing Costs 
			 Incapacity Benefit 44 54 340,000 
			 Disability Living Allowance 25 32 430,000 
		
	
	Notes: 1. All figures are estimates and are taken from the Family Resources Survey (FRS). The FRS does not include Northern Ireland, and 1999–2000 is the latest year for which data is available.
	2. Figures relating to the percentage of individuals living in households with below 60 per cent. of median income have been taken from the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) series which is derived from the FRS data set. These have been presented on both a Before and After Housing Costs basis to take into account variations in housing costs as is standard HBAI practice. No adjustment has been made to household disposable income as used in HBAI to take into account any additional costs that may be incurred due to the illness or disability in question.
	3. The estimates are sample counts that have been adjusted for non-response using the multipurpose grossing factors that control for tenure type, Council Tax band and a number of demographic variables. Estimates are subject to both sampling error and variability in non-response. Numbers of people are rounded to the nearest 10,000 and percentages to the nearest whole percent.
	4. In this context, an adult has been defined as any individual aged 17 or over.
	5. Benefit receipt on the FRS is based on self-assessment and therefore may be subject to mis-reporting. In particular, caseload comparisons between FRS and DWP administrative data would suggest that the FRS under counts receipt of DLA and therefore the figure of 430,000 provided in the table should be treated with caution.
	6. Numbers in the two rows should not be added, as there will be some overlap between the two groups. For example, people in receipt of Incapacity Benefit may well receive in addition other benefits relating to their needs, including Disability Living Allowance Care component or Disability Living Allowance Mobility component depending on their care or mobility needs.
	Source:
	Family Resources Survey 1999–2000.

Universal Bank

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent meetings he has had with the clearing banks on the universal bank; and what the outcome was of his discussions.

Nick Brown: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State met representatives of the British Bankers Association (BBA) recently. The BBA agreed to keep my right hon. Friend informed of developments.

Universal Bank

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent discussions he has had with representatives of sub-post offices on the universal bank; and what items were discussed.

Nick Brown: My hon. Friend the Minister for Competitiveness has regular contact with the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters, and my officials have also had meetings with the NFSP.

Universal Bank

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of account holders that would be required to make the universal bank economically viable.

Nick Brown: Our operating assumption is that there will be around 3 million Post Office Card Accounts.

Universal Bank

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of benefit recipients who would use accounts through the universal bank; and how that number has been calculated;
	(2)  what his estimate is of the number of people receiving benefits who will opt to have those (a) paid into accounts with the post office card account and (b) paid into accounts with established clearing banks on the introduction of ACT.

Nick Brown: At the start of the main move to ACT in April 2003, there will be some 13 million benefit recipients paid by order book or giro. Our operating assumption is that about 3 million of these will open a post office card account. The vast majority of benefit recipients, most of whom have a bank account, are expected to use an existing bank or building society account or open a new account.

Universal Bank

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what sums have been allocated in his Department's budget for the costs of (a) setting up the universal bank and (b) implementing automated credit transfer of benefits.

Nick Brown: Departmental Expenditure Limits for 2003/04 and subsequent years will be set in the 2002 spending review.

Universal Bank

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if he will make it his policy that the automated credit transfer of benefits will not be introduced until such time as the universal bank is available in all sub-post offices;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the time that would be required to set up the universal bank in all sub-post offices;
	(3)  on what date he estimates that the universal bank will be ready to begin operations;
	(4)  in estimating the numbers who might use the universal bank what account he has taken of the effect on post offices in urban areas where there are existing banks should ACT be introduced before the establishment of the universal bank.

Nick Brown: The Post Office expects that the universal banking at post offices will be available from 2003, in line with the start of the main move to ACT.

Employment Services

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to increase the amount of personal advice available to unemployed people.

Nick Brown: The creation of Jobcentre Plus will bring together the former Benefits Agency and Employment Service to provide a stronger focus on work for people of working age. As part of that increased focus, more people, including lone parents and disabled people, will be given the opportunity of meeting a personal adviser to learn about the benefits of employment and the help available to find work.

Winter Fuel Allowance

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his answer of 31 January 2002, Official Report, column 418W, on winter fuel allowance, if the Department now has information about the reason why winter fuel allowance payments have been delayed for up to 28 days.

Ian McCartney: The overwhelming majority of winter fuel payments are made automatically, based on details already held by this Department. These payments were issued on a rolling programme throughout November and early December 2001 to ensure that payments were received before Christmas. People who need to make a claim for winter 2001/02 have until 30 March 2002 to do so. Successful claims made prior to 24 September were paid at the same time as the automatic payments. Payments for claims received between 24 September and the March deadline are also made on a rolling basis, and our intention is to make all these payments by June. This payment process allows us to match claims in batches. This means that there will be some delay between the receipt of claims and making the payments.

Incapacity Benefit

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if an assessment has been made of whether EMP reports have caused (a) ill and (b) disabled people to have benefits reduced.

Nick Brown: Decisions on entitlement to benefit are made by Benefits Agency decision makers. Decision makers must take into account all the available evidence when reaching their decision. This evidence may include information from the claimant, a report from a GP, hospital consultant, or other health care professional, and a report based on an assessment by a specially trained Examining Medical Practitioner (EMP). No piece of evidence automatically takes precedence over another, and the benefit entitlement decision is never made on the basis of the EMP's report alone. If a decision maker considers an EMP's report not fit for purpose, the report is returned to SchlumbergerSema Medical Services as rework.

DEFENCE

Overseas Military Personnel

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence from which overseas countries military personnel were trained in the United Kingdom in (a) 2000 and (b) 2001; and if he will indicate in each case how many personnel were trained.

Adam Ingram: During 2000, a total of 3,504 overseas military personnel from 106 countries were trained at UK military establishments. In 2001, 3,731 military personnel were trained from 101 countries. A full breakdown of the numbers trained, by country, is as follows:
	
		Overseas military personnel trained in the UK during 2000 and 2001
		
			 Country 1 January to 31 December 2000 1 January to 31 December 2001 
		
		
			 Albania 7 15 
			 Algeria — 2 
			 Antigua and Barbuda 1 — 
			 Argentina 6 13 
			 Australia 84 100 
			 Austria 5 14 
			 Azerbaijan 1 — 
			 Bahamas 2 2 
			 Bahrain 29 30 
			 Bangladesh 2 2 
			 Barbados 2 1 
			 Belgium 82 87 
			 Belize 20 25 
			 Bermuda 14 14 
			 Botswana 5 14 
			 Brazil 20 17 
			 Brunei 152 177 
			 Bulgaria 5 6 
			 Canada 273 322 
			 Chile 4 5 
			 China 13 32 
			 Croatia 4 10 
			 Czech Republic 29 27 
			 Denmark 35 27 
			 Ecuador 1 — 
			 Egypt 6 16 
			 El Salvador 3 1 
			 Estonia 8 6 
			 Fiji 3 2 
			 Finland 6 11 
			 France 67 59 
			 Gambia 1 1 
			 Georgia 7 5 
			 Germany 115 130 
			 Ghana 3 8 
			 Greece 25 49 
			 Guatemala 5 5 
			 Guyana 2 3 
			 Honduras 1 — 
			 Hong Kong 7 4 
			 Hungary 17 28 
			 India 18 15 
			 Ireland 27 56 
			 Israel 43 16 
			 Italy 119 154 
			 Jamaica 22 41 
			 Japan 8 9 
			 Jordan 96 67 
			 Kazakhstan — 1 
			 Kenya 5 8 
			 Korea (South) 9 10 
			 Kuwait 311 307 
			 Latvia 12 14 
			 Lebanon 5 9 
			 Lithuania 11 8 
			 Luxembourg — 1 
			 Macedonia 8 14 
			 Malawi 5 6 
			 Malaysia 27 22 
			 Maldives 1 — 
			 Malta 6 2 
			 Mauritius 4 — 
			 Moldova 1 2 
			 Morocco 6 6 
			 Mozambique — 5 
			 Namibia 1 — 
			 Nepal 14 31 
			 Netherlands 283 253 
			 New Zealand 44 33 
			 Nicaragua 1 — 
			 Nigeria 27 28 
			 Norway 247 205 
			 Oman 186 178 
			 Pakistan 36 49 
			 Papua New Guinea 1 — 
			 Paraguay 2 2 
			 Philippines 6 10 
			 Poland 28 25 
			 Portugal 33 34 
			 Qatar 53 66 
			 Romania 16 19 
			 Russia 5 10 
			 Rwanda — 2 
			 Saudi Arabia 47 63 
			 Senegal 15 17 
			 Seychelles 1 — 
			 Sierra Leone 3 22 
			 Singapore 131 113 
			 Slovak Republic 16 19 
			 Slovenia 4 8 
			 South Africa 28 19 
			 Spain 17 22 
			 Sri Lanka 70 7 
			 St. Kitts and Nevis 1 — 
			 St. Lucia 1 — 
			 St. Vincent 1 2 
			 Swaziland 1 1 
			 Sweden 24 27 
			 Switzerland 4 11 
			 Syria — 1 
			 Tajikistan — 1 
			 Tanzania 6 8 
			 Thailand 29 27 
			 Tonga 1 4 
			 Trinidad and Tobago 2 3 
			 Turkey 50 56 
			 Uganda 2 3 
			 Ukraine 26 39 
			 United Arab Emirates 83 95 
			 United States of America 126 163 
			 Uruguay 8 4 
			 Yemen 2 6 
			 Zimbabwe 6 2 
			  
			 Total students 3,504 3,731 
			 Total countries 106 101

Service Law

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Case of Morris v. the United Kingdom; and what plans he has to bring forward legislation to make changes to service law in response to the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights.

Adam Ingram: The European Court of Human Rights delivered its judgment in the case of Morris v. the United Kingdom on 26 February. The court noted that the changes to the court martial system made by the Armed Forces Act 1996 have gone a long way to meeting the concerns expressed in the Findlay case. However, it found that there had been a violation of article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which concerns the right to a fair hearing, as regards some aspects of Mr. Morris's trial by court martial in 1997.
	The court was concerned about the potential for undue external influence over certain members of the court martial panel; and about the procedures for involving non-judicial authorities in the review of court martial findings and sentences. We are assessing the implications of the court's judgment for the future conduct of courts martial and whether any changes that may be necessary require the legislation to be amended. Army and Royal Air Force courts martial that are imminently scheduled are being postponed, but for the time being trials in the Royal Navy are continuing in view of the nature of the regulations in that service concerning the position of court martial members.
	I shall make an announcement as soon as our assessment of the implications of the judgment has been completed. However, we do not consider that the judgment fundamentally affects the court martial system, which we intend to retain as an effective and fair means of administering discipline and justice in our armed forces.

Royal Navy (Pay Banding)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will ensure that the Royal Navy does not impose a two tier system of high and low pay banding based on Pay 2000 JE for the Rating Corp; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: A two tier system of high and low pay ranges was introduced for Royal Navy ratings (and also for soldiers and airmen) with effect from 1 April 2001 as part of Pay 2000, the new pay structure for the armed forces. Job Evaluation underpins the allocation of trades to one of the two pay ranges. Pay 2000 was devised in close collaboration with the single services and was the subject of a high profile and extensive communications programme throughout the armed forces.

HMS Sheffield

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when HMS Sheffield will be withdrawn from service.

Adam Ingram: On current plans HMS Sheffield will be withdrawn from service towards the end of this decade. In the shorter term she will be reduced to a low readiness state, commensurate with force levels endorsed within the Strategic Defence Review, from November 2002 until September 2004.

HMS Exeter

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if HMS Exeter breached the Harmony guidelines following her deployments last year.

Adam Ingram: HMS Exeter has not breached the Harmony guidelines. She has been deployed for a total of 12 months in the past three years and has spent 48 per cent. of her time in her base port of Portsmouth during the last two years. Harmony guidelines state that ships should spend a minimum of 40 per cent. of their time in their base port over a two-year period, and that total deployed time over a three-year period should not exceed 18 months.